Grow With Me!-Creating A Toddler Garden

Rationale and Benefits

Introducing your toddler to the joys of gardening can prove beneficial in several ways. It can -

• Be a healthy, outdoor activity
• Instill a feeling of creative accomplishment and pride
• Create a life-long love of gardening
• Serve as an introduction to the changing facets of nature
• Teach environmental awareness and respect for nature
• Be an incentive to eat healthy vegetables

Materials

• Gardening tools
• Seeds
• Seedlings
• Organic Fertilizers.
• Garden plot
• Garden containers or pots
• Journal

Setup Suggestions

Toddlers have short attention spans and limited amounts of energy, so -

• Select fast-growing, low-maintenance plants.
• Select plants that produce colorful flowers and/or vegetables. Toddlers are more likely to be fascinated by bright colors and interesting shapes.
• Select vegetables that your toddler likes to eat or ought to eat. Your toddler may be more inclined to eat vegetables that he or she has personally cultivated.
• Select seedlings rather than seeds.
• Select large-sized seeds that a toddler can easily handle.
• Select a small plot that will not overwhelm your toddler. Make sure the plot has sufficient sunlight and there is an easy access to water supply. If you don't have a yard or sufficient space outside, you can create a garden in containers and pots.
• Avoid all potentially harmful chemicals.
• Make sure there are no potential hazards in the garden.
• Always keep an eye on your toddler so there are no chances of accidents.

Teaching Concepts

• Talk to your toddler about gardening basics.
• The names of the flowers and vegetables you are going to plant
• Why seeds need to be sown
• How plants develop from seeds
• How flowers develop from buds
• How sunlight affects plant growth
• Why plants must be watered
• How to know when a vegetable is ripe for picking
• Why butterflies are attracted to flowers
• How the weather affects plants

Garden Activities

• Involve your toddler in the gardening process from the start.
• Encourage your toddler to select seeds and plants for the garden.
• Take them shopping for the garden tools.
• If possible, let them select their garden plot in your yard. If the garden is going to be in containers and pots, let them select the ones they want. You can help them decorate the pots and containers.
• Help your toddler dig the plot to prepare the garden bed. Let the toddler get muddy and dirty. This is the fun part of gardening!
• Help your toddler plant seeds or seedlings.
• Show them how to water the garden.
• Help them to clear weeds. Weeds can be avoided by placing strips of newspapers in the areas surrounding the plants.
• When the flowers and vegetables develop, help your toddler pick them.
• You can enjoy the vegetables with your toddlers or make little gift baskets for friends and let them know what a clever, resourceful child you have.

Assess

• Ask your toddler what they like about gardening - digging, planting, watering or picking the final produce
• Ask them what their favorite flowers and vegetables are from their toddler garden
• Ask them to draw pictures of their toddler garden

Extension

• Take your toddler to visit garden centers and botanical gardens.
• Visit nature websites online.

Here's a list of some easy to grow vegetables, fruit and flowers you can plant in the toddler garden:

• Radish
• Beet
• Cucumber
• Corn
• Lettuce
• Lady's Finger
• Potato
• Brinjal
• Broccoli
• Tomato
• Strawberry
• Sunflower
• Marigold
• Zinnia
• Geranium
• Petunia