Gardening With Toddlers

I am a member of the Everywhere Society, and Everywhere has provided me with compensation for this post about Macy’s. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own. 

My daughter has probably made more meals in her two years on earth than I have over the course of my entire life. Albeit, her food is plastic, wooden or invisible. Each day, she pretends to be a waitress, scribbles down my order  with a crayon and whips up imaginary cuisines in her kid kitchen. Recently, we visited the science center, and she spent most of her time playing in an interactive garden–not a surprise!

At first, I thought I could never grow the real deal at home. Pretend play would satisfy my daughter’s hunger for gardening and cooking. I’m not very domestic. Heck, I almost failed middle school sewing, and I’ve never grown antyhin in my life–unless you count transferring red roses into a crystal vase. Then I met Lisa King, the  star of Great American Country’s reality TV show Farm Kings. She told me I didn’t have to be a farmer to be a gardener. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even need a backyard! Lisa shared her ideas on her to green your home and office recently at Macy’s Flower Show. I pulled her aside to find out how a Girl Scout drop out like me could take up gardening as a mother and daughter hobby.

Here’s are her four tips for gardening with toddlers.

Start Small

You can grow anything on the windowsill. Start small with fun foods and flowers that sprout up in a few days. Perhaps plant sunflower seeds or herbs. Or even grass, which can be used to decorate with Easter eggs.

Plant Dinner

Carrots, beats and sugar snap peas are great crops to introduce your child to healthy eating and sustainable living. Growing your own garden is also a great way to get your child to eat his vegetables. Kids can till the soil and water the plants.

Use a Cheat Sheet

Don’t be intimidated if you don’t have a green thumb. You have Pinterest! You can use your phone to look up tutorials and gardening ideas.

Connect With Mother Nature

Unplug electronics, and connect with Mother Nature. If digging in the dirt isn’t your idea of a good time, take a trip with your children to a local greenhouse or farmer’s market.

Hey DFTM Fam–Have you and your little owe gotten your hands dirty growing a garden? What was the fruit of your labor?