children health

Gardening with Children: Growing more than vegetables

A child planting seeds in a garden bed

When my son was two years old, we planted our first vegetable garden together. We had so much fun planting, caring for, playing in, and exploring our garden that we have planted more vegetables together every year since. Our garden has not been entirely successful in regard to the vegetable harvest, but that’s okay! Research shows that when kids are involved in growing fruits and vegetables, they are more likely to try a greater variety and eat more of them, and the benefits of gardening don’t end there. Even without a successful vegetable harvest, the activity of gardening can help kids engage their curiosity, explore their senses, learn delayed gratification, gain self-confidence, and develop a sense of responsibility. For young children, playing in a garden can help with their physical and mental development. For all children – and adults, too – gardening is a physical and mental activity with benefits for our overall health and wellbeing.

Gardening with children, especially little ones, can be messy. It’s quite common for kids to want to dig and play in the dirt! If possible, designate a “dig zone” where children can play without disturbing the seeds or plants. Reduce your stress and get ahead of any possible mess by:

  • Wearing shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
  • Preparing an outdoor handwashing station with soap, a bucket of water and a towel
  • Having a towel and change of clothes handy

These tips, and more, came from the children’s book How to Say Hello to a Worm: A first guide to outside by Kari Percival. In the supplemental information included in this book for parents and caregivers, Percival acknowledges that although gardening with young children can be messy, the benefits of gardening outweigh the challenges.

For more information on gardening, including how to grow and harvest vegetables with your family year round, check out the Growing Franklin blog or contact your local Extension office.

Written by Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension Franklin County

Reviewed by Beth Stefura, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Mahoning County

Sources:

Butcher, K. & Pletcher, J. (2017). Gardening with young children helps their development. Michigan State University Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/gardening_with_young_children_helps_their_development

Moore, M. & Ellis, E. (2022). Kids in the Garden: A Nutritious and Fun Experience. Kids Eat Right. https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/eating-as-a-family/kids-in-the-garden-nutritious-and-fun

University of California Master Gardeners of Butte County (2021). Children in the Garden. The Real Dirt Blog. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=46188

How Do We Have Hard Discussions with Our Children?

mother and child

Let’s face it the last couple of years has been a whirlwind of events that have challenged us all!  The pandemic, racial tensions, natural disasters, and now the war in Ukraine. That isn’t even including the daily events in our lives that add stressors.  Talking to our kids about difficult subjects is one of the toughest things a parent has to do.  It’s hard to put the words together to address such big issues.

Communication helps us to process and to make sense of things we don’t understand. Offering guidance, a listening ear, and explaining current events brings comfort and allows children to understand and process subjects that are challenging (even if we don’t know all the answers).

Allow your child to lead the conversation. This helps you learn exactly what they are concerned about, so you can address it. Ask open-ended questions to gauge their understanding, make sure you are not distracted, and take your time. Making eye contact and repeating back what they say without judgment teaches them how to be good listeners and gives them the opportunity to correct any misunderstandings. Be sure to let them know you are there to talk to them when they are comfortable and ready. Lastly, be honest. If you don’t know the answer it is ok to say, “I don’t know, can I get back to you on that?”  Lying can cause damage and may result in the child getting information somewhere else.  It is best that they get information from a trusted adult.

Talking about difficult subjects with children’s guidelines:   

  • Be honest
  • Limit small kids’ exposure to age-appropriate subjects by turning off social media, tv, radio
  • Let them know you are a safe person to share with
  • Listen and ask questions
  • Acknowledge their feelings. Let them know you understand it is OK to have these feelings of uncertainty. 
  • Ask what they would do if they were in a difficult situation
  • Get them to consider solutions
  • Ask them if they ideas to help or change the situation and what they can do

Sources:

Walls, T. (2020.) How to Talk to Your Child About the News. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/news.html

Rocker, L. (2020). Breaking Bad News to Your Children.  https://www.childpsychologist.com.au/resources/breaking-bad-news-to-your-children-quirky-kids-6-top-tips

Children’s Museum Team, (2020). 7 Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Difficult Subjects. https://www.cmosc.org/talking-about-difficult-subjects/

Written by:  Kellie Lemly M.Ed., Family Consumer Science Educator, OSU Extension, Champaign County, lemly.2@osu.edu

Reviewer: Roseanne Scammahorn, Ph.D. Family Consumer Science Educator, OSU Extension, Darke County, scammahorn.5@osu.edu