Excitement to gardening is one of the easiest ways to increase connections with their food and feed their children vegetables. Still, many children do not know that grapes grow on grapes and carrots are the root of the plant.
I’ve made sure that doesn’t apply to my kids. Last summer, my 3-year-old son went out into the garden and harvested a bowl of kale and then ate a lot of it. He took pride in the plot of his small garden and served cherry tomatoes to his passing neighbors.
Growing the curiosity of gardening
Kids love hands-on learning and exploring. Follow these 5 tips for fun and healthy gardening with your kids.
Give them a good plot with lots of suns
Each of my kids has their own little garden beds. They have good plots with rich soil and plenty of light. I’ll try to set them up for success. I do some weeding here and there. My kids are still young and I hope their early gardening experience is positive yet realistic.
Make sure it’s a manageable size
It’s easy to be swept easily in the excitement of spring, but children can help a little to plant their gardens, plant weeds and harvest them. This size will vary depending on the child’s age, time available and range of attention.
Choose a fun and easy plant
These crops vary depending on the climate, but some are easier to grow and harvest than other crops.
- Sugar snap peas and cherry tomatoes are favorites in our homes as they can be harvested early in the year, and can be easily grabbed with small fingers and require less work.
- Cucumber plants are fun for many children and can be served in many ways.
- Pumpkins, gourds and squash are also very fun if you have plenty of space. Children learn to be patient to wait for maturity.
We tried to grow some crops that were not ideal for our climate, such as artichokes and melons, but let our kids know that our growing seasons might be too short to harvest anything.
Lead them, but follow their lead
I’m trying to become a facilitator than an expert, so they can follow their own inspiration. My daughter is very excited to grow flowers this year, but I am more interested in her growing vegetables. If I insist on only her cultivated vegetables, she will probably lose interest in her garden, so I’m trying to find a balance.
Make a dinner that uses crops
My kids are delighted to contribute to our diet with the vegetables they harvest. It is also a very healthy way to motivate your garden to continue to maintain when summer weeds are taking over. I often plan my meals around some vegetables and spices they grow.
They know the plants well in their plot, so I was even able to ask my 3 year old to harvest the necessary ingredients. Make sure you’ve trained on how to do this.
Editor’s Note: This article originally published on September 20, 2016, was updated in May 2025.
