by E K Stapleton

Created on: July 08, 2008   Last Updated: April 07, 2012

Gardening can be an exciting experience for children as well as a chance to learn. What could be better for a kid than some outdoor fun and a legitimate reason to get dirty. Allowing your child to tend their own garden will provide some quality time for you to spend together, lasting memories and a life long love of gardening and nature.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you get started.

• Kids will enjoy having their own gardening tools and supplies. Borrowing mom's just doesn't give the same as the satisfaction as owning your own.

• The attention span of children is a lot shorter than that of an adult. Let them work at their own pace.

• Children's priorities are different than ours. You may think all the weeds need to be removed, but your child may like the look of some of them. Remember it's their garden.

• Let the child choose what to plant. You can offer guidance and suggestions, but leave the final decision to them. They will be more enthusiastic about something they have picked by themselves.

• Don't set your expectations too high. Rows may be crooked or plants not spaced properly, but it's not a big deal. Constantly correcting them will put them off of the whole experience.

• Leave room for digging. One of the most enjoyable parts of having a garden will be their ability to get in their and dig. It's all part of being a kid.

• Most importantly, make the experience fun.

Now you're ready to get started here are some kid friendly garden ideas.

1. Butterfly gardens

Kids love to watch wildlife and insects. This type of garden will attract plenty of varieties of butterflies and possibly even some humming birds. Your garden should be planted in a sunny spot with protection from the wind, such as along a picket fence. Nectar producing flowers are what attract the butterflies. Some flowers you may plant are; zinnias, monarda, butterfly weed, salvia, cosmos, coneflower or black eyed Susan's. You child will enjoy hours of enjoyment watching and identifying the various types of butterflies. Remember to keep the garden pesticide free.

2. Herb gardens

These can be planted in relatively small spaces so even children who live in apartments can grow their own herb garden on the balcony. Little maintenance is required to grow a successful herb garden. This is the perfect endeavor for a child. Herbs such as mint, cilantro, oregano, dill and basil are good to grow. They will take great pride and satisfaction in harvesting

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