Life skills for kids – teach your kids to grow their own food.
Children gardening skills
Should gardening be taught in schools? I have read many articles claiming it should be the responsibility of schools to teach our children gardening skills. In my opinion I think parents should stop playing the blame game and show their children how to build and maintain their own garden, in particular edible plants.
Don’t have room for a garden?
Now I know that not everyone lives in on a farm. There are people that live in small units with only a balcony, but that is not an excuse for not teaching your child how to grow their own food. You don’t need to have a thousand acre farm – you could use a small planter if room is a restriction.
You don’t need to be horticulturist
I have three young children of my own and they all have their own vegetable or herb garden. I know what some people may be thinking. No, I’m not some kind of gardening nut that plays music to my plants. I’m actually a fulltime marketing and digital design professional; in fact I am the director of DLM Marketing.
However, I was lucky enough to be taught how to cultivate my own food by my father. He passed knowledge down to me that he learnt from his father and now I am passing the same lessons to my children. The little secrets discovered by generations could be lost, if we all relied on the education system to include gardening in to the school curriculum.
What plants do kids like to grow?
When choosing plants to grow with your children, it’s a good idea to include plants that most children like growing. Kids enjoy plants that they can smell, that grow fast, and are easy to identify. In most cases, picking plants that have bigger seeds are easier for small hands to handle. Sunflower, pea, pumpkin, and squash plants all meet these conditions. Plants that can be snacked on are also fun for children. As the plants grow, it can be easily picked, such as snow peas. Lettuce, radishes, and cherry tomatoes grow quickly, which is great for children who tend to have a harder time with patience. Carrots, potatoes, and pumpkins are also fun plants for children to grow because they are easily recognisable. Children are very sensory tuned, and enjoy distinctive sensory plants. Planting crops that range in textures from fuzzy, rubbery, prickly, and smooth can be fun for children to experiment with.