Family and Parenting: Information For Families

When the kids are getting bored and you finally think you’ve run out of ideas to do you may want to re-think and try these easy, kid-friendly activities.

When it comes to the planting season why not let the kids join in? They may not be able to till the yard but they sure can put a hand in to help grow their own vegetables and fruit. Buying seeds of plants that are drought resistant or tolerant are great ways to let them watch the fruits of their labor grow throughout the season.

First, you should make a short list of plants that are appropriate for you soil, setting, and area. You can also purchase seeds for use in pots. Not only can they enjoy a small section of the family garden, but they can watch potted plants flourish on the porch, stairs, or in the window sill and this will give them the opportunity to go hands-on and water, and care for, their own little plants.
Plants such as Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan), and Iris (Bearded Iris) are long-blooming flower perennials that will shine bright almost all year and will be a delight for the little ones who planted them. Some great annuals to work with are Daffodils, Violets, and Sunflowers. They are beautiful and safe for children to work with. Don’t forget to take pictures as they grow; they may even grow taller than the child that planted it (in the right container)!

For gardening, children will enjoy planting watermelons, strawberries (perennial), pumpkins, and herbs such as catnip (if you have a cat), or chamomile for its beautiful purple color. Strawberries are a great container plant as well and can you can reap the benefits of their growth rather quickly and keep them in the ground for their return the next year. Pumpkins and watermelon are running-vines and are so much fun to watch as they grow. The kids will have to tend to them as they begin to climb outward, but not too much. The catnip can be dried and used to create projects for a pet cat or for friends and family who have pet cats. The best part is spending time with your kids as they get a hands-on experience with the power of nature. Be sure to use proper drainage in your containers, such as rocks, so the enthusiasm for watering doesn’t impact the plants as much. Your home will look beautiful with the added flower coverage and the kids will have beautiful blooms to show off to friends and family.