How to grow your own with kids #31DaysOfLearning

In 31 Days of Learning today – we have a little bit of a focus on the garden; we are looking at how to grow their own with kids thanks to Dorset Country Life.

With the way the world is going, it is so important we instil in children the importance of sustainable living. Recycling and teaching them how to separate and reuse items is a great first step. However, one of the best and I think most important things to teach our young generation is how to grow their own food.

This does not need to cost a lost of money, take a lot of time or even use up a lot of space. Whether it is a window box, a small corner of the garden or something you want to make into a project together, the important thing is to have a go and it’s always great to get outside with the kids and you’d be surprised at how much it encourages them to eat and try more fruits and vegetables.

Over on Dorset Country Life, we grow our own produce at the allotment and encourage Alyssa (daughter/granddaughter) to be with us as much as possible and she adores it!

So how do you go about it? We’ve got three top tips to make growing your own with kids much easier.

Choose where they’re going to grow

You are going to have to find either a small patch within the garden, or if you perhaps don’t have as much outdoor space; a window box. It is good to encourage a sense of ownership so “agree” where to position things,

Choose the seeds

It is a good idea to start simple and choose quick growing things e.g. radishes and lettuces and large seeds that sprout quickly like beans, cucumbers and pumpkins as the first shoots are so exciting. In addition, if your children are anything like most 5 year olds, patience isn’t necessarily one of their key attributes…. 😂 Another idea for you, is to purchase things that have already sprouted and just need planting from their pots as well, like strawberries, snapdragons and herbs.

Follow the instructions

Then all you need to do is help them by encouraging them to follow the instructions which come with each plant or seed packet. Thank goodness for reading labels!

Let them make mistakes, plants do die if they are not watered, let them enjoy harvesting and eating the garden produce.

Don’t be disappointed if the interest fades, your child may not want to keep on gardening and find other hobbies more interesting, but you have given your child the choice, and maybe, just maybe, found a new hobby yourself.

For more information or tips on helping children learn to grow their own, I recommend FlowerPot Man. Why not kick off their interest with this great download too!

Dot to dot garden tool

We hope you love these ideas, and do let us know how you get on. If you are looking for more outdoor activities and gardening tips, why not check out these from the KiddyCharts blog as well.