Children can learn new skills, have fun, play and develop self-confidence by spending time in the garden tending plants and growing their own food. Most children enjoy being outdoors and love digging in the soil, getting dirty, creating things and watching plants grow.
Children learn from growing things
People of all ages can enjoy gardening but children, in particular, will have lots of fun and gain special benefits. Gardening is educational and develops new skills including:

• Responsibility - from caring for and tending plants.
• Understanding - as they learn about cause and effect (for example, plants die without water, weeds compete with plants etc).
• Self confidence - from achieving their goals and enjoying the food they have grown.
• Love of nature - a chance to learn about the outdoor environment in a safe and pleasant place.
• Reasoning and discovery - as they learn about science, botany, nutrition and simple construction.
• Physical activity - that is fun and productive.
• Cooperation - including shared play activity and teamwork.
• Creativity - finding new and exciting ways to grow food.
• Nutrition - learning about sources of fresh food.

How to get children interested
Try these suggestions to get children involved and interested in creating an edible garden.

• Keep it simple.
• Give children their own garden space; it does not have to be big - it can start in a large container or in a few pots.
• Involve older children in the planning and design of the garden.
• Use lightweight, easy to handle and correct size tools and garden equipment.
• Encourage children to dig in the dirt. Younger children love making mud pies.
• Grow interesting plants like sunflowers, corn, pumpkins, tomatoes and strawberries.
• Use a trellis or tepee to grow beans.
• Plant flowers that attract butterflies, ladybirds and other interesting insects or birds.
• Make a scarecrow.
• Install a water feature, birdbath or sundial.
• Set up a worm farm.
• Visit community gardens, children’s farms or the botanic gardens for ideas.

Safety in the garden
Here are a few safety tips that will help make the garden safe for all children:

• Select the correct size tool.
• Keep sprays and fertilisers out of reach; garden organically whenever possible.
• Do not use chemicals.
• Provide safe equipment and tool storage.
• Secure fences and gates.
• Provide shade in summer with umbrellas or shade cloth.
• Encourage children to wear a hat, sunscreen, suitable clothing and gumboots.
• Be careful with buckets of water around very young children and toddlers.

Plant selection
An edible garden is a garden that contains flowers, herbs, seeds, berries and plants that you can eat. Children like large, brightly coloured flowers and vegetables that grow quickly. Plants like sunflowers, corn and pumpkins are suitable. You should also consider using varieties of plants that have sensory and textural qualities as well. Sensory plants are plants that have special smell, taste, touch and sight qualities.

Different ages in the garden
Toddlers, preschool, primary school aged and older children will all have different expectations and learning experiences from exposure to an edible garden. Younger children will require careful supervision during activities. Older children are physically capable of handling a variety of activities including lifting, carrying, mulching and pruning.

Activities in the garden
Choose activities that suit the child’s age. Suggestions include:

• Preparing the soil with organic fertiliser
• Planting vegetables, fruits and flowers in the correct season
• Watering the garden
• Weeding
• Gathering seeds and dried flowers
• Deadheading flowers
• Replanting and re-potting
• Composting, recycling and mulching
• Using the worms from the worm farm
• Craft activities from harvested seeds, plants and flowers
• Picking vegetables and fruits when they are ready to eat
• Preparing food
• Healthy cooking, making salads and preparing school lunches.

Where to get help

• Community or local garden groups
• Local council
• Cultivating Community Email: info@cultivatingcommunity.org.au
• Horticultural Therapy Association of Victoria Tel. (03) 9848 9710 www.horticulturaltherapy.com.au

Things to remember

• Gardening is a healthy, fun activity for children.
• Children develop new skills and learn about science and nature from growing their own food.
• There is a variety of interesting activities they can be involved in, like planting, mulching, weeding and cooking.
• Make sure that your edible garden is a safe place with suitable equipment, tools, fences, gates and paths.

• Content partner
• More information
• Gardens for health

• Print fact sheet
• Listen to fact sheet
• Email fact sheet

You might also be interested in:
Children - getting them active.
Exercise - everyday activities.
Gardening - people with disabilities.
Gardening safety.
Gardens for the senses.
Physical activity - it’s important.

Growing your own veggies is a great way to learn about the world, get kids outside, save money and encourage healthy eating. Many people already do it, and lots of us say we should do it. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you don’t have the space or the money, because you can get around that. We live in a small ground floor unit, and we have a row of pots out the back with tomatoes, carrots and herbs growing.

Step one - work out where you are going to grow your plants. If you have a house with a big backyard, you can have as big a garden as takes your fancy. You might need to build a garden bed, or perhaps you already have an empty bed there. If you have a small yard, you might need to be a little more creative. Can you fit a garden down the side, or in a funny-shaped corner somewhere? If you’re in a unit, can you put pots outside or on a veranda? The advantage of this is that you can take them with you if you move; pots are also a good option for renters. Talking through the options of where to put the garden/ pots, what will fit where and the like develops spacial awareness in your children - a very important mathematical skills.

Step two - go shopping! This doesn’t have to be expensive. Give you children a budget ($10 gets you set up nicely) or at least get them to add up your purchases as you go. Also make sure that you compare brands and sizes of pots and plants at the hardware store/ nursery. This is yet another opportunity for you do weave numeracy development into everyday activities.

This is a list of things which you might need, depending on your circumstances, what you already have and your budget. Seeds, seedlings, pots and saucers, stakes, fertiliser (if desired), potting mix, watering can, shovel/ trowel etc.

There are also many ways to drop the cost down if you want. Instead of buying plastic pots (about $5) buy a 98c bucket and drill some holes in the bottom. Buy smaller seedlings, or seeds, as these are cheaper than larger plants. A watering can isn’t a necessity, a milk or soft drink bottle with some holes in the top and the lid on turned upside down is a good improvisation. Remember to keep your kids adding up how much you’re spending. Compare this figure later with the money you save with not buying veggies later. It might take a few goes to make up for purchasing non consumables like pots, but within two or three ‘crops’ you’ll come out ahead.

Step three - measuring out and planting. Plant your seeds/ seedlings according to the directions on the packet. Have the kids measure out the rows 20cm apart, and the 5cm between each carrot or whatever the directions are. More geometry! If you’re using soft potting mix, the kids’ beach toys will probably be enough to dig holes; why buy a metal spade if a plastic one you already have will do?

Step four - tracking the growth. Depending on how enthusiastic your kids are and how long you want to spend, you might want to keep track of how well your plants are growing. Make a list on paper or in Excel of the date (or number of days since planting) and the height. If your kids are really keen (and/ or doing graphing at school) you might want to make a graph of the growth rate. Remember to keep it fun. Phone Grandma and let her know how quickly the tomatoes are growing, or that there are now three carrot shoots coming through. Enthusiasm = good! The more excited they are, the more maths you can sneak in, and the more they’ll be looking forward to eating them.

Which is step five - eating! The kids should be really excited about eating food which they have seen grow from scratch. It also means that you’ll save money that week at the shops, and you won’t have to buy as many veggies!