My name is Allison; I started working at EasyStand eight years ago before I had kids. Now I have two kids, a five year old and two year old. I am always trying to find different activities to keep them busy. My children love crafts! If it includes markers, sparkles, stickers, paint, and spending time with mom they are happy. I enjoy doing craft with my children and I believe that it is good for children of all abilities to create different things.
This spring, when it was time to start the garden, it was still pretty cold outside. (We live in MN) I was thinking of a fun way to get the kids involved with starting the garden inside. I took some clear plastic cups (you could also use clay pots) and had the kids decorate them. They used paint, stickers, and markers. A few of the cups even received silly faces! After the cups were decorated, I had the kids fill the cups about half full of potting soil. If your child has difficulty grasping things with their hands, try using a large handled spoon or just scooping the dirt into the cup using their hands.
Then we picked out different seeds to plant in each cup. We used watermelon, green bean, tomato, flower and grass seeds (grass seed makes great hair for cups with silly faces)! I had them place the seeds in the cups and then cover the seeds with more soil. One note: be sure to read the seed package to see how deep the seeds need to be planted.
The next step was to water the seeds. You could use the traditional watering can, but I chose to give each of the kids a squeeze bottle full of water. This is easier for them to hold, and use without making a mess! We watered the seeds and placed them in a sunny window. They watered the plants every day and loved watching the seeds grow! Try having your child water the plants in their standing frame, they will have a better view of the plants and an easier time watering them from above. Now that the weather has warmed up, we plan on transplanting our plants into the garden outside.
The really neat thing is that this entire project can be done on the tray of your child’s standing frame, it easy to clean and they’re in a better position for planting. Not only will they get a chance to spend time with their loved ones, but will also get the benefit of standing and a wonderful feeling of accomplishment! You will get the benefit of seeing the smiles that this project creates all summer long. From one mother to another mother, take some time to plant a garden with your children!
More Gardening Ideas “It’s Easy to Plant Your Own Indoor Garden”
Have you enjoyed gardening with your child? Any adaptations that you used to make it easier for them?
good idea Allison, hopefully some parents and children will plant as per your instructions.
Way to go sister…..maybe next year I will try this…our lawn/area around the house is being dug up and moved around at the moment. So no garden this year, hopefully next year.