In this article I will discuss GARDENING FOR CHILDREN Spring is clearly on its way and there is no better time to introduce the concept of “seed cultivation and plant growth”. Growing is a beautiful and simple experience for young children to accomplish with minimal adult support. Observe the seed: how will these tiny dry kernels grow in the green grass that covers the soil of the outdoor area? It’s mind-boggling for adults and a great way to spark children’s interest in nature.

Once you’ve grown your container grass, you can take it one step further and create small grassy gardens with the kids. These can be taken home as a gift for Easter or just as a spring surprise!

Necessary Material : GARDENING FOR CHILDREN

• Soil and grass seeds (available at a local nursery).
• Plastic containers about 6-12 cm deep.
• Watering can.
• Spray bottle filled with water.

Important Note:

An alternative to topsoil is soil collected outside (children also appreciate the digging process). Just make sure the earth above is moist and soft. One year my group of children collected the soil from the molehills, very effective since the earth was already loose and soft!

Instructions: For GARDENING FOR CHILDREN

• Fill the plastic containers with potting soil or earth.
• Water the soil well with a watering can.
• Sprinkle the grass seeds all over the surface of the soil.
• Gently spray with the spray.
• Place the containers on a sunny windowsill. If you don’t have a wide enough window sill, place them on a table near a window where it can get sunlight. Containers may need to be rotated during the growing process to achieve uniform sun exposure.
• Wet the grass seeds every day, making sure the soil is completely moistened.
• Watch the seed grow into a reddish-brown and then green sprout within a day or two. An additional project could be to create a chart or calendar to monitor the growth of the seeds, such as when the seeds were planted, how many days it took for the seeds to start sprouting, when the first green appeared, etc.
• Once the grass has grown, you can have fun with the children by giving the grass a “haircut”, using scissors to cut it. This will make the grass thicker and more uniform.

Once the grass has grown, you can leave it as it is, or consider completing the garden with some tweaks made or picked up by the children, such as painted stones, a cobblestone path, or anything else inherent to the spring theme.

Spring grass gardens make a nice gift to take home or can be used as a centerpiece. Now your kids will once again enjoy the miracle of growing a simple blade of grass that they will observe in lawns.

GARDENING FOR CHILDREN: ACTIVITIES TO DO AT HOME, complete details on how you can do GARDENING FOR CHILDREN: ACTIVITIES TO DO AT HOME