Even before his or her second birthday, your toddler can interact with, be inspired by, and make discoveries in the garden. All it takes is a patch of dirt, a few seeds, and some patience, and before long you'll find a gardener growing alongside your tomatoes. Here are some ideas for getting started.
Inspiring ideas. Check out some garden-related picture books from the library and read them with your toddler. (See recommendations in the "Tips" section below.) After reading a few, ask her what she might like to plant in her garden this spring. Have ready a selection of seed packets (including those from the books you've read) for her to investigate and choose from.
Hunt and gather. If you plan to start seeds indoors, go on a scavenger hunt with your toddler to search for fun containers you can use. Most will work, as long as they're at least 2 to 3 inches deep and have drainage holes. Some examples include: cardboard egg cartons, empty yogurt containers, and pots made out of newspaper.
The right stuff. Provide your toddler with tools they can safely use. If you don't want to buy kid's tools, adult hand tools will work. Teach him how to use the tools properly and be clear about which tools are okay for him to use. Demonstrate how to sow seeds or plant starts and then let him do it. Remind him you are there to help if it is needed, but otherwise try not to intervene. Using a small watering can or spray bottle, your toddler can water their seeds and plants. Be prepared though, the only thing better than digging in the dirt is splashing in the mud!
Picture perfect. Have your toddler help you create plant labels with pictures to help your pre-reader remember what's growing where in the garden.
Peek-a-Boo. Visit the garden together as much as possible and take time to stop and look. Pick up insects. Catch a worm or watch it wriggle. Peek through the leaves for produce. Count the tomatoes. Pull a weed or two.
Ready or not, here I come! Toddlers live in the here and now. Cultivating patience can be challenging. Help your young one identify ripe radishes, seasoned snow peas, and plump pumpkins by cutting out magazine clips of ripe produce. Glue these onto index cards or create a little book so your little one can consult and compare before picking. This won't eliminate the need to ripen hastily picked green tomatoes on your windowsill, but have heart, there's more where these came from. One of the best rewards of gardening is eating produce right from the plant. Allow toddlers to munch freely on produce that's growing aboveground, but be sure to carefully wash any root vegetables before eating.
Yummy in my tummy. Following a plant from seed to table is not only satisfying, it sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy eating. Invite your toddler to help you wash tomatoes before adding them to a salad or to sprinkle fresh basil onto pasta. For recipe suggestions check out Pretend Soup, a cookbook for preschool-age children by Mollie Katzen.
Use organic methods for fertilizing and pest control when gardening with young children.
Good Garden Reading
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Pumpkin Pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
This is the Sunflower by Lola M. Schaefer
Whose Garden Is It? by Mary Ann Hoberman
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Oliver's Vegetables by Vivian French
Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
Alison's Zinnia by Anita Lobel
Every April communities, organizations, and individuals nationwide celebrate gardening during National Garden Month. Gardeners know, and research confirms, that nurturing plants is good for us: attitudes toward health and nutrition improve, kids perform better at school, and community spirit grows. Join the celebration and help to make America a greener, healthier, more livable place!About National Garden Month