Discover how a few pots, a little dirt, and a child’s curiosity can bloom into confidence, connection, and fun in the garden.
Here are six tips you can do to help your child grow their gardening interests and skills.
Start small: A few pots, a small-sized raised bed, or even a sunny windowsill keeps gardening fun and manageable.
Let the kids choose: Encourage them to pick colorful, quick growers like cherry tomatoes, radishes, or sunflowers; instant motivation!
Give them tools: Child-sized gloves, trowels, and watering cans make kids feel like real gardeners.
Make it hands-on: Let them dig, plant, water, and harvest. The more they do, the more they’ll learn and enjoy it.
Celebrate the harvest: Cook or taste what you grow together; even a single cucumber can become a big victory.
Keep it fun, not perfect: Some plants won’t thrive, and that’s okay. Gardening teaches patience, curiosity, and resilience.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County answers home and garden questions which can be emailed to homeandgarden@cornell.edu or call 315-736-3394, press 1 and ext. 333. Leave your question, name and phone number. Questions are answered on weekdays, 8am to 4pm. Also, visit our website at http://cceoneida.com/ or phone 315-736-3394, press 1 and then ext.100.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Here are six tips to help children develop a green thumb of their own | Gardening column
Reporting by Karen Korotzer / Observer-Dispatch
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