Gardening with Kids

Gardening with kids is a way to kill two (or more) birds with one stone.  Growing and harvesting your own food helps your budget and creates a bit of self-sufficiency for your family.  Having your children assist you in the garden builds the teamwork within your family, creates great family memories, and teaches children where their food comes from.  When children grow their own produce they are more likely to eat the fresh fruits and vegetables they need to be healthy.  Making gardening a habit at a young age begins healthy habits for a lifetime.

It is just the beginning of planting season here in Iowa.  So far we only have a few hills of potatoes planted.  Good Friday is traditionally the day to plant potatoes, so if you are looking to start a garden, this week is a great one to begin to make plans.  Other early plants to sow include lettuce, radishes, snap peas, and onions.

My family has been gardening together for six years (at my best estimate).  We are vendors in our small local farmer's market.  The boys are very much a part of that, and probably don't remember a time when we were not a part of the market.  My seven year old is a natural and cracks me up as he makes up little songs to sing when he is in the garden.  He's already asleep so I'll have to share the song he created during last year's onion planting later this week.  His dad and I can't remember it.

My preschoolers just completed a week-long unit on gardening.  One of the books we read is a Caldecott Honor Book by Janet Stevens called Tops and Bottoms.  To fully understand the book the child would need a bit of background knowledge about gardening, but I was able to supply that with a bit of discussion and some visual aids (vegetables) just prior to reading the story.  In the story a clever hare tricks a lazy bear three times over the course of a season of gardening.  It covers the parts of plants, the work involved in gardening, and several types of vegetables.

Other fictional gardening books include:  Planting a Rainbow and Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert, The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss, and The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle.  Since nonfiction is so important to young children, let me also recommend these books From Kernel to Corncob and From Eye to Potato by Ellen Weiss.

Can You Come Outside to Play? Halftime

Well, somehow the first half of April has slipped by in the blink of an eye.  For the most part we have been very lucky to be blessed with fabulous weather for outside play.  Here are some things we did outside during the first half of April.

Cleaned up the yard

Played on the swingset

Went on walks on the road by our house and on the bike path in town

Played in the sandbox, even digging a 'pond' for the rain to fill (they were disappointed that it didn't work)

Rode bikes and big wheels

Built a fort

Played at the park

Baseball practice 

Played catch with Dad

Set up a refreshment stand at an auction

Planted potatoes

Tried to fly a kite (I bought this kite at a garage sale a year of two ago.  We have never been able to get it in the air.  I think it has some sort of defect in its design.)

Made 'kites' with plastic grocery sacks and twine and flew them

Climbed on the hay in Grandpa's barn

Grilled out and picnicked with family

Helped to feed the cows

Hmmm...  I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but that's most of it.  The weather has taken a turn for the worse lately.  We have gone from 90 degrees early this week to 40 with wind and rain over the last couple of days.  We did not make it out yesterday.  We had rain and wind all day and the temps never got above 45.  The rain looks like it has moved on for now.  It is still windy and cold, but we will try to get out for a bit later this morning or this afternoon.  The natives have cabin fever and will benefit from a short time outside to run the stink off.

Splish-Splash Rain Play

The challenge to play outside every day in the month of April is on.  So far we have had good weather, but it is April and we will get rain (and maybe even worse) in Iowa.  So Danielle at Can You Come Outside to Play? has challenged us to brainstorm ideas about how to get outside in the rain this week.

I am wearing two hats for this monthly challenge.  I am both a mom of three young boys and a preschool teacher.  I find it easier to get out in the rain with my own children.  We have multiple changes of clothes on hand and it's no big deal to strip down and take a shower if we get muddy.  Plus I am okay with them getting wet.  I'm not concerned about the mud or the chance of them getting a cold.  As far as the preschoolers, we have gone out in some light rain, but we normally stay inside.  I'm going to be thinking about that this month.

So what can you do to get outside when it is raining?  Really, you can do the same sorts of things in the rain that you can do when it is not raining.  Playing on the playground and taking a walk become new, exciting activities in the rain.  Playing in the sand and making canals, dams, or sandcastles becomes a science lesson and a lesson in cause and effect.

Splashing in puddles, squishing mud between your toes, and making mud pies are activities that are easier on a rainy day.

I did a quick google search and found these art suggestions.  Drawing with chalk on a wet pavement is a different experience than drawing on dry pavement.  The chalk becomes more vibrant and almost paint-like.  Another idea is to sprinkle a few drops of food coloring on a paper plate and wander about the yard allowing raindrops to mix the colors.  No two plates will be the same.

A science activity would be to go to a pond or stream to hunt for frogs, turtles, and other rain-loving wildlife.

Lots of rain themed songs have been passing through my head as I have been typing.  I would love to just go out in the rain and sing and dance with my kids.  Here's a few song suggestions from a few different genres (I have quite eclectic taste):
Purple Rain, Prince

Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain, The Judds

Blame it on the Rain, Milli Vanilli
I Love a Rainy Night, Eddie Rabbit
Singing in the Rain, Gene Kelly
Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Judy Garland (though there is a newer version by Isreal something that is catchy.  I think it is the version that played on ER when Dr. Greene died.)

So a rainy day does not have to mean that you can't go outside.  Certainly, you should watch the skies and avoid outdoor play in lightning or other severe weather.  But usually sometime during a rainy day you could get out and enjoy the rain.  Think of those memories you are making...

Let's Play Outside

Danielle from The Mommy and Me Book Club has issued a challenge for parents and caregivers of young children.  The challenge is explained here.  And she has started a new blog to go along with this challenge. The challenge is pretty simple--take your children outside to play everyday during the month of April.  If you accept the challenge go here and become a follower, then comment that you accept the challenge and share your favorite place to play outside as a child.  At the end of April, you'll need to post again to state if you met the challenge.  She will be giving away an Amazon Gift Card at that time.

Throughout the month we will share ideas including books and blogs about the benefits of outdoor play. Each week she will host a link up to share pictures and blog posts about your outdoor play that previous week.  These will have a theme and will be on Sundays.  They are not required, but I think they will be super fun!  I get some of my best ideas from the inspiration of others.

If you take your children outside for at least 30 minutes daily in April, they will have spent at least 900 minutes outside.  Woo Hoo!