by Yvonne Mccormack

Created on: June 01, 2009

I started gardening at my father's side. He has always loved gardening, and from an early age he always encouraged my brother and sister, and myself to help him with his weekly tasks. As a result I picked up the gardening bug, and I just love it.

I have children of my own now, and to encourage them into the world of gardening was both a joy and a challenge. For a long time they would watch me every year getting my beds ready for planting, and getting the baskets and containers cleaned and free from any of the last years compost. I was washing the window boxes one year when my daughter asked me why I was washing it when all I was going to do was put dirt in it again. This was the start of many questions, and the start of her own interest in the garden.

To encourage children in anything can be challenging, but if it's something you do your self and enjoy doing it then half the battle is won. First of all when you are busy gardening and your child asks questions about what you are doing and why you are doing it, take the time to answer them. This is how a child learns and the more you explain what you are doing the more interest they will show.

Start your child off with a small patch of garden, or a window box is another good idea. Ask your child what they would like to try and grow. It's much more exciting for them if they can choose rather than being told what to grow. This way it makes what they grow truly their own.

When they have decided what to grow then it's off to the garden centre. If they are going to plant up a beautiful window box you will need to look at the many varieties of bedding plants that there are. If you are starting off from seed decide if your child wants to plant flower seeds or vegetables. Make sure to make the experience fun at every stage other wise your child may loose interest before they have even got started.

If your child has opted for a nice window box, or just a planter your job in encouraging them is made a lot easier. Let your child pick out the window box, or maybe you have one already from the previous year. If so show your child how to clean it and get it prepared for planting. The next step is to fill the window box or planter with your compost. You Will find that children love getting their hands in the compost. Keep encouraging your child all the way, with little tips, and praise them when they do things right.

When putting in the plants, or seeds, make sure you let the child do it themselves this will help them to feel that it's all their own work, and they feel proud of their accomplishment.

If your child has planted flower plants they will see the results straight away. The look of sheer joy on your child's face will be reward enough for any parent. If your child has planted seeds then they have the added joy of watching and waiting for the seeds to start growing. When the first seedlings start to sprout your child's excitement will be worth all the effort.

By taking the time to answer your child's first questions about the gardening that you are doing you are sowing the seeds in your own child and encouraging them to enjoy gardening too. Always include Little jobs for your child to do in the garden when you are out there your self working, you will find your child will not need much more encouragement than that. Above all always make gardening fun for your child and you can't go wrong. You will have a budding gardener before long.

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