Gardening begun at a young age offers fun family activities that develop children's creativity. Here are some family ideas for preschool projects and projects for older children.

  • Butterfly garden: Butterflies are attracted to flowering nectar plants. Different butterflies are drawn to specific flowers and even have favorite colors.
    • Talk with a plant specialist or wildlife expert to learn the best plants for attracting butterflies in your area.
    • Find a quiet spot in your yard or even a windowsill box, and plant the flowers and the leafy green plants caterpillars prefer.
    • Butterflies will come year after year to eat the nectar. Plus, they'll lay eggs on the leaves that their caterpillar young will eat. When your leaves are dotted with cocoons, you have a butterfly garden that will grow and soon take wing.
  • Cactus garden: A cactus garden is an easy way to give a young child an appreciation for nature and growing, without a lot of hard work.
    • Cacti can withstand a wide range of environmental conditions, easily grow in pots, are resistant to most plant pests, and need little water or fertilizers.
    • Many will grow beautiful flowers, but be mindful of those sharp spines.
  • Theme gardens: Have your child choose a theme to grow.
    • Perhaps a pizza or spaghetti sauce garden (oregano, thyme, peppers, onions, tomatoes)
    • A salad garden (lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, radishes, carrots, cabbage, and cucumbers)
    • Or even a name garden (plant flower seeds in the ground carved out in the name of the child. When it grows, the child's name will appear in a colorful, flowered garden).
  • Sunflower gardens: Imagine a giant, sunny flower towering over your child. This is a garden to make a child's imagination run wild.
    • A package of giant sunflower seeds can bring feelings of living and caring for a giant of a garden. Plant two rows a foot or two apart and your child will have a giant sunflower tunnel.
  • Windowsill herb gardens: Small, colorful flowers and herbs are fun windowsill plants.
    • Sweet potatoes make pretty vines around a window.
    • And alfalfa sprouts grow thick and grassy, a perfect hiding place for a tiny fairy figurine.

Enjoy your children's first gardening experience. Use it as a time to get to know one another as you weed and care for it together. Emphasize how proud you are of what they've done. Praise their hard work.

Together, you and your child can enjoy nature's wonders.