These fun & educational tips for gardening with kids come to us from guest blogger Kim Vij of The Educators' Spin On It .

Fun & Educational Tips for Gardening with KidsSpring has a way of magically inviting our families outdoors to stop and enjoy nature and all the transformations that are occurring. One special thing to do as a family is to start a garden together. Gardening with kids can be one of the most rewarding adventures you can do. Plus on so many levels it can be a learning opportunity for your child. Here are a few tips for involving your child in the garden this season PLUS a few of our favorite Melissa & Doug Gardening Tools from the outdoor lifestyle products.

Fun and Educational Tips for Gardening with Kids

Learning Responsibility in the Garden

  • Give a job of Watering a special plant
  • Weeding a specific area- don't forget your Melissa & Doug Garden gloves
  • Picking vegetables when they are ready
  • Collecting herbs for dinner
  • Finding bugs and removing the unwanted ones
  • Mixing up the soil before planting with their tools
  • Become an Assistant Pollinator
  • Ask them to help you with their Melissa & Doug Gardening Cart

Fun and Educational Tips for Gardening with Kids

Ways to Explore Gardening

  • Create a Kid's Garden for your child to experiment
  • Help to sort seeds
  • Compare various types of Plants
  • Make a garden plan
  • Help with planting seeds & plants
  • Picking Flowers for indoors (Flower Suggestions)
  • Bring a Magnifying Glass Outdoors to Observe
  • Measure growth of plants
  • BONUS: 30+ Ways to Explore Gardening with Kids

Fun and Educational Tips for Gardening with Kids

Ways to Learn in the Garden

  • Keep a plant journal
  • Provide containers of various sizes to explore capacity with dirt
  • Create a list of things to eat from the garden
  • Create plant labels
  • Learn with Seeds {Free printable activities}
  • Create a garden sensory bin outdoors with dirt and seeds to explore
  • Read Books about Gardening

Make Your Own Garden Book

Extend your garden fun with a personalized book of your child's experiences in the garden. Take a few pictures on the roles and experiences your child has. Then Insert the images into a folded paper book to handwrite or insert onto a document on the computer and create your own story together about your garden experiences. To create the text for your garden book use simple sentences like, "I can ____ in the garden."

Fun and Educational Tips for Gardening with Kids

Discover More Gardening Fun on Melissa & Doug's Blog

  • Alphabet Rocks
  • Creating a Kid Friendly Garden
  • Exploring Your Senses in the Garden
  • Flower Facts for Kids
  • Making Plant Markers
  • Tips for a Successful Garden

Gardening can be so rewarding with your child, even if you don't have a green thumb. There are a variety of ways to learn, explore and discover with kids in the garden.

What will you grow in your garden with your child?

*   *   *

Like this post? Pin it!

Fun and Educational Tips for Gardening with Kids

thumbnail

Kim Vij is an early childhood educator and mom of three. She shares her "Educator's Spin" on parenting issues and how to make everyday moments into learning opportunities at The Educators' Spin On It and award winning Pinterest Boards. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google + and Pinterest!