School’s out, and it’s time for kids to play outside … not sit in front of a video game. That’s why co-hosts Teresa O’Connor and Jayme Jenkins of Nest in Style on Horticulture Radio are sharing great ideas for gardening with children.
You’ll hear the latest on “nature deficit disorder” among many kids in our society, and learn about products, plants and tools that make gardening with children more enjoyable. There are even tips for starting a school garden and farm-to-school program in your community. And, of course, we have another great giveaway…
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But first, before we discuss this month’s giveway, we’re delighted to announce the winner of May 2011′s Nest in Style on Horticulture Radio drawing. Congratulations to Patricia C for winning an autographed copy of Graham Kerr’s Growing At The Speed of Life; P. Allen Smith’s Gardening How-To Cards for Veggies and Herbs; and a Greenland Gardener raised garden kit!
Enter to Win the June’s Kids Garden Giveaway
Two exciting prizes will be awarded this month, including:
First Prize: An autographed copy of Our Shadow Garden by Cherie Foster Colburn. This charming story engages young readers and introduces them to the magic of night gardening. Featuring artwork by the children of the Children’s Cancer Hospital at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Plus, a darling Kid’s Garden Hand Tool Set from aHa! Modern Living.
Second Prize: A copy of How to Grow A School Garden by Arden Bucklin-Sporer and Rachel Kathleen Pringle. Packed with sample letters, strategies, detailed lesson plans and tricks of the trade for starting a school garden in your community.
To enter: Simply leave us a comment and tell us your thoughts on the topic. Why is it important for kids to learn about nature and gardening? How do you entertain your kids in the garden? What are some of your favorite memories of being a child outdoors and gardening? Regardless of whether you have children or not, we want to hear from you.
Gardening with Kids Resources:
- Junior Master Gardeners
- How to Start a School Garden
- National Garden Association on Kids Gardening
- National Farm-to-School Program
- Naples Botanical Garden and online Children’s Garden Games and pictures of children’s garden on Teresa’s blog.
- Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Kids Activities
- Why This Kid Wants to Be an Organic Farmer
- Star Wars Way to Teach About Organic Foods
- Vintage School Book Teaches Kids About Soil
Cool Products that inspire, educate and engage kids…
- Insectigations
- Bug Bingo
- Ladybug House
- Praying Mantis Pergoda
- Butterfly Poster
- Bird-opoly
- DIY Native Bee Nests Instructions
- Vegetable Coloring Book
- Eat Right Cards
- The Kid’s Book to Weather Forecasting
- Strange Plant Collection
- Venus Fly Trap Kit
Tune in next month when we give easy tips for maintaining your garden. You can find more gardening advice at aHa! Modern Living and Seasonal Wisdom. Until then, go grow something.
Thanks for another informative website. Where else could I get that kind of info written in such a perfect way? I’ve a project that I’m just now working on, and I have been on the look out for such information.
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I care for such info a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
It is so important for kids to understand that everything we need to live comes from nature and the world around us. I love to let me kids help dig, move compost, find worms and whatever they want to do in our yard or garden! I have wonderful memories of hours spent picking strawberries and blackberries or playing in the dirt at my childhood home!! Thanks for this great opportunity
I am a Master Gardener working with kids in garden for summer program at local library. This is our third year planting,learning crafting, and harvesting 4 raised bed on the grounds of library. Kids are preschool age mostly and we have had wonderful experience with kids and parents in our wonderful community in central PA.
Its amazing how gardening can impact kids in so many ways. Its a tricky way to get them to learn some science and math. It also is a way to teach them to broaden their eating horizons – once they have been involved in growing something, their investment in it helps get them to try it. I have seen it happen over and over – my company installs gardens at schools all around the country.
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Just wanted to thank everyone for all the wonderful comments. We love hearing about why you think it’s important for kids to garden and play in the dirt. So, keep sharing your ideas and good luck in the drawing! ~ Teresa
Thanks for letting folks in on the secret: kids LOVE to get their hands dirty! And appreciate you supporting the kids @ MD Anderson Cancer Center….
Our pleasure, Cherie. “The Shadow Garden” is a great garden book for kids. Some lucky listener is going to really enjoy having it! ~ Teresa
Things I’ve learned about kids and gardening: they like fast results so it’s best to grow plants that yield a quick harvest such as radishes. They like to grow weird and strange things like giant sunflowers, or celosia (cause they look like brains) or white pumpkins. Besides being outdoors in the fresh air and learning where food really comes from; gardening gives children a sense of wonder, a sense of discovery and exploration and a sense of accomplishment as they bite into that first green bean that they grew themselves.
Teaching kids to garden is both fun and educational. They’re great helpers too!
I think it is extremely important for kids to learn about nature and gardening at an early age, especially at this time of fast paced living, commercialism and threat of global warming/climate change. Getting kids knowledgeable and enthused about nature and gardening (and the beauty they will help create and save) will be vital in saving our earth that is threatened with destruction. The more they know about nature, the more they will respect and care for it. This will be crucial in saving our earth for generations to come.
Hi, My granddaughter is 18 months old, I am her main care giver while her mommy is working. The first nice day I needed to get my weeds out and annuals in. I set up her pack & play and in she went. That lasted for about 20 minutes while she threw everything out. She was crying to get out and I can’t stand to hear her cry. Out she came, I put one of my new hand trowels in her hands and let her go. We both had smiles on our faces as Gwamma weeded and planted and Francesca dug and felt around in the dirt. We had beautiful sunshine on our faces and we were happy to be outside after the long (crappy) winter here in the Midwest(Chicago suburb). That was the day Frankie petted her first worm and giggled when it wiggled from the contact. I have been an ardent gardener since we bought our first property about 30 years ago. Both my adult children love to garden and now it is time to teach the next generation. We have many perennials, annuals, vegetables, fruit bushes and fruit trees. I love this time of year, I just wish the weather would cooperate.
Lovely experience about letting go and allowing your little one to explore! With little ones digging–and probably eating–the soil, non-chemical pesticides and fertilizers are a must! Keep up the open exploration!
Growing with kids is so important! Not only are you teaching them to grow food, I believe as a mom im teaching my children life skills. My youngest has here own garden where she grows yellow pear tomatos, peas which she call natures candy and lots of flowers like zinnias which are her fave. She has a special diet to follow with having celiac and khrones. It helps me rest easy growing our own food for her that’s chemical free.