Gardening with Children During The Summer Holiday

Now the summer school holidays are upon us many parents are wondering how they are going to be able to entertain their little ones for six long weeks. A great inexpensive way of keeping children occupied, and keeping at bay the inevitable “I’m boooored” cry is to get them out into the garden.

Children love being outdoors, the fresh air is good for them and the garden can be such a fun place for them to learn about the world around them. The garden can also require some work during the summer months so what better way to get jobs done than to get the whole family involved, and who knows, you may be inspiring the next Alan Titchmarsh!

Here we look at fun ways to get your children involved with the garden this summer.

Make Your Own Compost

Making compost is a great way for children to learn about the natural cycle of growth and decay. It will also clarify the link between plant growth and the need for healthy soil, while helping them to understand and be encouraged to recycle waste.

Compost can be made all year round, although it would be best to start your compost bin at the beginning of the holidays so children can watch it develop throughout the six weeks.

You will need:

1. A compost bin with a lid, you can buy one of these or build your own.
2. Old plant and kitchen waste
3. Soil
4. Used animal or pet bedding

Making your own compost is incredibly easy to do. Simply fill the compost bin with dead leaves, green garden waste, old plants, the contents of their pet hamster, gerbil, rabbit or guinea pig’s bedding when they clean it out, fruit and vegetable peelings, and even eggshells. Add some soil over the top and cover with an old piece of carpet or doormat and leave to rot down, only removing the cover to add more waste. Once the bottom of the compost is brown and crumbly it is ready to be dug into the garden.

Grow Your Own Vegetables

Growing vegetables with children is a great way of teaching them where food comes from and should hopefully increase their interest in healthy food, in turn encouraging them to eat more.

You will need:

1. A plot of good soil
2. Gardening tools
3. Compost or manure
4. Watering can
5. Seeds

When growing vegetables with children it is best to choose ones which are easy to sow, will grow quickly and your children like to eat. Although vegetables can be grown all year round, so it is important to think of this as a longer term project, carrots, cabbage, beetroot, radishes, French beans and onions are great to plant at this time of year.

When planting vegetable seeds it is important to follow the instructions for each individual vegetable. Children will then need to be encouraged to monitor their crop, watering, checking for any slugs on them and pulling out any weeds.

Make a Mini Garden

Children will love making their own miniature gardens from whatever they can find in and around the garden. They can then continue to care for and add to their garden and use it with their small world toys during imaginative play.

You will need:

1. A tray, either plastic or metal.
2. Compost or soil from the garden
3. Sand and small stones
4. Silver paper or milk bottle top
5. Twigs and foliage from around the garden

Simply fill the tray with soil so it is level with the sides of the tray. Using the silver paper or a milk bottle top create a pond or water feature. Then add paths using sand and stones, and place flowers, twigs and other collected items around the miniature garden however your children wish.

At Birstall we have a fantastic selection of gardening equipment and tools for any aspiring little gardeners this summer, such as these children’s gardening gloves.

Your garden can be a fantastic learning resource for your children. Use it, be inspired by it, and most of all have lots of fun together in it and enjoy gardening with your children!

Published July 23rd, 2014 by Jordan. Article ref 2949

Tags: children gardening, gardening, summer garden

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