We will show you how your little ones can find fun and joy in gardening with playful and educational ideas.
To begin with, a little conceptual digression: In 1840, the first "kindergarten" opened its doors. The word is so anchored in everyday language that we don't even think about where it actually comes from. Well, the name says it all: the garden and nature seemed to the kindergarten inventor Friedrich Fröbel to be the most important environment for doing justice to the importance of early childhood in an educational context. Young people should spend a large part of their time there in order to develop ideally. What was groundbreaking back then is on everyone's lips again today. Children should play in the countryside instead of staring at screens, because nature is he althy. Why not become active as little gardeners right away? The little ones get to know the cycles of life, reduce fears of contact with he althy food, take responsibility, make decisions, experience self-efficacy and have a lot of fun at the same time. With our tips, the implementation succeeds - even without your own garden.
If you want to get your kids excited about the garden, it's a good idea to follow a few tips. We will show you everything that is important for the success of your projects: from awakening a love of gardening to child-friendly design and planning your own projects to choosing the right plants, equipment and playful methods. In our Plantura shop you will find products for the garden that are harmful to your children, pets and nature.
Gardening with children: An early love of gardening
In order for the seed to sprout and gardening to bring joy in the long term, the project should first of all be based on a wish. The desire to grow plants can arise naturally in the very youngest: they want to imitate their gardening caregivers. Use this childhood learning strategy and encourage your offspring to accompany you into the garden. You let your children do it there. Of theYoungsters will declare almost everything they find in the garden to be a toy. Which animals populate your garden? Which berries are already ripe? How do the immature ones taste? Are there any pretty finds like leaves, bark or seeds that can be used for handicrafts? The foundation stone for gardening has been laid.
Child-friendly design in the garden
You can now do a lot to encourage gardening with a child-friendly design. Children's favorite gardening activity is harvesting. So make sure there is something to harvest, for example in the form of a sweet hedge. In addition, children will spend more time in the garden if they have their own hiding place. It is advisable to avoid very prickly and poisonous plants. Of course, you should also refrain from using toxic pesticides.
The first own garden project
As soon as the child wants to “do” everything (really everything) “itself”, it could be the right time for the next step: planning their own project. Get the little ones involved from the start so they can make the green theirs. Participation is an important factor in maintaining interest in planting in the long term.
Create a wish list together. Which herbs does your child particularly like? Which fruit, which vegetable? Which flowers? Is there something that is easy to care for, such as radishes or chives? Here we present to you which plants are particularly well suited for gardening with children and promise rapid success. But don't take on too much. Begin with one or two different species and a few seedlings entrusted to the child's care. One or two square meters is enough to start with. A self-made colorful design can make the new task and responsibility visible even before germination. Your child will be proud! Decide together where to plant. Mark out the bed and prepare the soil together. If you are planning a balcony or indoor project, paint the pots together and free up window sill space. Even projects that require a bit of patience - like sprouting an avocado seed - can be very impressive.
Find allies for gardening with kids
Children need other children.Think about who you can recruit as "accomplices" for your project, because everything is easier and more fun together. If you don't have a garden, join a local community garden or start one yourself. In many communities there is financial and technical support for such a project. If you have a garden yourself, perhaps you can imagine making this privilege available to others and regularly inviting friends of your children to garden. Few things motivate children more than sharing their achievements with their peers. Are there grandparents or other relatives who spend time with the children regularly anyway? Fine! Make them garden cronies.
Suitable tools for gardening with children
In terms of gardening tools: Even if children like to dig in the ground with their bare hands and don't usually leave gloves on for longer than 30 seconds, tools are needed for specific gardening work. And anyone who has already struggled with inferior, blunt and heavy equipment knows how quickly this can make you lose interest in your work. Even if children can use the smaller adult tools, at least the long-handled adult tools are all too heavy and therefore not safe. It is therefore worth thinking about small but high-quality basic equipment for children's hands, possibly consisting of a spade, rake and planting shovel. Many devices are supplied with a telescopic handle, so the investment grows with you for many years. It goes without saying that sharp and pointed tools are age-appropriate and may only be used in the presence of an adult.
The ideal plants for gardening with children
Plants for children should serve very different purposes. They can be grown for their tasty fruit or for their high ornamental value. Children understand their environment with all their senses, maybe they cultivate one or the other plant because of its interesting tactile properties, such as Wollziest (Stachys byzantina). Others smell particularly aromatic or attract animals, which can be observed wonderfully. Whatever you choose, the rule of thumb is: All children's plants should be easy to grow, non-toxic and hardy.
In our special article we have put together for you which plants are best suited for gardening with children.
Gardening with children all year round: regrowing and other playful methods
Motivating children always works best with a portion of play, a pinch of humor and a handful of willingness to experiment. Even in the cold season or when there is no garden or balcony available, beautiful gardening projects can be realized in this way. From regrowing - re-cultivating sections of vegetables - to creating a garden for animals, keeping old gardening customs alive, telling garden stories, drawing with vegetable paints and turning the harvest into beautiful gifts.
Tip: In the book "Regrow your Veggies" by Plantura co-founders Melissa Raupach and Felix Lill you will find instructions on regrowing over 20 types of fruit and vegetables. There are also helpful tips to make regrowing fun for young and old.
We have compiled the best methods for gardening with children in the house and apartment and all year round in one article for you.