It is springtime again and for us, that means a shift from short days and cold nights to longer days and nighttime temperatures that will continue to rise throughout the summer. Many of our trees are starting their first flush and the soil is warming up enough to turn over. The longer, sunnier days are begging us to shake off that winter funk and get outside together as a family.
Gardening is the perfect way to put some spring in our collective step.

Children thrive with time spent outside digging in the soil with their hands, or with a stick that fits the bill perfectly. For them, it is about time spent together as a family and the chance to feel that they are part of the natural world and you don’t need a large plot or a farm to do the trick. Start with what you have, whether it is a small bit of space reserved in your yard or some containers on your balcony. Believe it or not, you don’t even need a green thumb; just match yourself with plants that can thrive on what you can offer, and go for it.

THE LITTLE ONES
When we are getting ready to head outside, we grab large spoons from the kitchen, empty yogurt containers, and any other odd bits from the kitchen that will make it fun to play in the soil for the little ones and make it easier to clean up later for the big ones.
Once we have our items, we settle into the garden or gather around a garden pot and let the play begin. I make time and space for my son to dig and explore without any gardening goal as tiny hands like to seek out stones, worms, and wet soil to pack together.
Set your seeds and starter plants away from this space of free play, and do your planting together where you can guide your child through the process and share important jobs like planting the seeds and then covering them with soil. This is a chance to talk with your child about the interconnectedness of seeds and the sun, and the rain and warmth that will go into making it come alive, and grow into its full potential.

Outside of the healing qualities of nature, and the precious family time together, gardening is another way to build your younger child’s vocabulary for items not normally found in our day-to-day lives. Name items like the trowel, or rake; name the types of seeds and have them explore their color, shape, and size. Hold worms and bugs in your hands to keep them safe and in one piece, then marvel together at the similarities and differences between each one, your child included.