Gardening can be a fun, educational activity for children of all ages. It teaches them about the life cycle of plants,, where food comes from, and helps them develop a better appreciation for fresh produce. Spending time in nature is a great way to connect with your loved ones and relax in the sun. If you’re looking for ways to get your child interested in nature and his surroundings, check out these three gardening activities.
1. Identify different plants on nature walks
Teaching your child how to identify different types of plants is a fun and easy way to get involved in nature. What better way to start than by showing him the plants that grow in your garden?
If you live in an apartment, hit the parks and go on nature walks. Point out the various types of plants, flowers, and insects you see along the way. You can also bring along a plant book for easier reference.
Consider making homemade bird feeders from recycled materials. Not only will you be providing food for the birds, but you’ll also be teaching your child the importance of taking care of our feathered friends and their role in our ecosystems, such as pollinating flowers and dispersing seeds.
2. Draw pictures of plants
After coming back from your nature walks, get your child to draw pictures of the plants they spotted long the way. You can use of the drawings to label the parts, such as the roots, stems, and flowers. Explain their various functions and the plant’s life cycle— how it grows to a sapling then a fully-grown plant before flowering and bearing fruits.
Take this activity up a notch by getting your child to make a nature collage using leaves, berries, and flowers from your backyard or collected from the neighbourhood parks.
3. Growing your own fruits and vegetables
The best way to understand the life cycle and growing process of plants is to grow them ourselves. Consider planting your very own fruits and vegetables in the garden with your child. If you don’t have a backyard, how about volunteering at the local community garden or growing the plants in containers? Children will love getting their own hands dirty and be excited to eat the fruits of their labour. Some popular fruits and vegetables to grow in Australia include pumpkin and strawberries in spring, potatoes and tomatoes in summer, as well as spinach and onions in autumn.
Through this activity, you can show your child how to care for their plants properly, such as watering and tilling the soil. As the sapling grows, help your child measure the progress of his plant. Once the plant has fully matured, get him to point and name the different plant parts and their functions. This is a great way to reinforce what he has learnt on his walks previously.
Make The Most Out Of Your Time Outside
Identifying flowers, watering plants, and harvesting vegetables are all fun garden activities that can be enjoyed with the whole family. Armed with a greater knowledge of plants, your child will develop a deeper appreciation for nature.
At MindChamps PreSchool in Australia, we support our chidlrens’ holistic development just as you would at home. Contact us today to find out more about our preschool programs or schedule a tour of our centres in various locations across Australia!