Spring has sprung! And we couldn’t be more thrilled to embrace the wonders of nature. This is the time of year that we kick-off our Garden and Agriculture (G+A) Program. Our G+A Program, offers outdoor activities for a wide range of ages, because everyone should get the chance to play in the garden!
To celebrate Earth Day, we’ll be revealing Lakewood’s first school garden, while our Edgewater location hosts an outdoor Family Scavenger Hunt. This season, we will explore plants, weather, seasons, and learn conservation principles. Connecting with nature and children in the garden is a terrific bonding experience. A garden gives you a place to connect and experience a number of sensations with your little one.
Check out these age-appropriate projects for little green thumbs:
Age 1:
Sensory activity - Let them dig through the soil for small sticks. Talk to them about the texture of the soil. Add in some water while discussing and feeling the difference between dirt and mud. Count how many sticks you found.
Age 2:
Get dirty. Give your child a small hand trowel and let them search through the soil for worms or small sticks. Talk to them about the texture of the soil and measure the length of the worms / sticks.
Ages 3 - 4:
Put it on the calendar. Preschoolers are learning patience and sense of time, concepts that can be reinforced in the garden. Use a calendar to highlight the days when you expect seeds to germinate. To add to kids’ sense of accomplishment, have them put a sticker or check mark on the days they water and weed.
Choose the right plants. For the best chance of success, pick easy-to-grow veggies such as radishes, carrots, and lettuce. Seeds that are big enough for little fingers to handle easily include sunflowers, beans, and peas.
Ages 5 - 6:
Use seedlings for a faster haul. Start with small veggie plants instead of seeds. Kids’ sense of accomplishment will be boosted by the quick results.
Eat what you harvest. Children take great pride in what they harvest. Give them an opportunity to participate in meal prep and see the wonder in their eyes as you eat “their” peas and carrots.
For more information on how to keep your parent game strong 💪 , see Parent Pointers, a series of helpful articles, tips, and ideas.
Raising a child takes a village and we’re proud to be part of the tribe!