I will be the first to admit I have a strange kid. He LOVES to garden but hates most bugs. In fact, he has an unexplainable fear of bees. Logically, he knows we need them to pollinate the plants. However, the sound or site of one from yards away will send him running. He hates working the soil with his bare hands and getting dirty. Oh my. How does someone who hates the things that are the very core of gardening, come to love gardening? Creativity, Senses, Results. Kids have a strong need to use their creativity, fill their senses with awe, and see results. Gardening has so many ways to fulfill these aspects of their lives, but they might need a little help in seeing beyond those aspects that are unpleasant to them. Once they experience the excitement and joy, it will be nearly impossible to avoid being hooked. But how? Especially if they are showing signs of resistance. Not everyone will grow to love gardening, but you can increase the odds that your kids will at least like some elements of gardening while learning some valuable skills for the future.

• Don’t push. This will only increase the resistance and create a dislike for all gardening.

• Be aware of the dislikes and find a solution. If they are too preoccupied with the things they hate, they will not be able to discover and enjoy what they like. If your child hates the dirt, be sure they have their own “cool gloves” for working in the soil. If they hate the heat, then garden early in the morning. Let them do the watering or play in the sprinklers to be watered like the flowers.

• Subtly get them involved. Quietly observe what they enjoy and let those tasks be their special job. Make a big deal out of how well they have done and how helpful it was to you.

• Enlist their opinion and let them make some of the decisions. Even a two-year-old can decide between red or purple petunias, petunias or pansies with the cute little faces, baby carrots or big carrots. They will be more excited to help plant what they have chosen.

• Would they rather play a part in the entire garden or would they rather have their own space to grow a few things on their own?

• Connect their other interests to gardening. Have a young photographer on the rise? Have them make a photographic record of everything in the garden. If you have a budding cook, plant herbs and vegetables they can experiment with in the kitchen. They will soon want to grow their own. Plant a few flowers that are good as cut flowers in arrangements for the little floral designer. How will they resist nurturing them to perfection for their special floral arrangements? Is building more their thing? There is plenty to build in the garden – pole bean teepee, trellis, cold frame, raised bed frame, furniture, focus art/sculptures, birdhouse, etc. Arts/crafts such as sculptures or stepping-stones make a great focal point in the garden. Keep your little artists and crafters involved in gardening by featuring their creations throughout the garden.

• Plant something just for fun. Specialty gourds are fascinating. There are so many different types available now. Try a snake, swan, or birdhouse gourd. They will have so much fun crafting them, they will request more every year and probably want to grow the gourds themselves. If you have chickadees, plant some giant sunflowers and watch them hang from the flowers as they eat the seeds right from the plant. Indoors, do fun projects like growing an avocado seed.

• Plant something meaningful to them – a new tree for each year of their life, a plant that provides something they love (fruit, nuts, berries, etc.), a plant with the same name as their name, a plant in memory of a deceased loved one.


• Plant a kid’s theme garden. Think of their favorite things or activities. The themes are almost endless but here are some ideas to get you started. Pull from favorite books (Harry Potter potion ingredients or garden scene from a picture book for younger kids), kids’ room or party themes, science (flowers with astronomy related names for instance), history, cultures, holidays (pumpkins for Halloween carving and decorating), nature (gourds to make birdhouses or sunflowers for the Chickadees to feast on), art (make a picture with flowers such as a flag on a hillside using red, white, and blue petunias or use plants specifically for use in creating art with the harvest – beans, big seeds such as sunflower or pumpkin, etc.), animal shaped topiaries, miniature garden, food themed gardens (pizza, Mexican, Italian, etc.), recreate a memory in time or place.

• Do not forget indoor gardening. Starting seeds indoors is a great way to introduce gardening to very young children. Provide a special indoor plant for them to care for and call their own. Do age appropriate fun experiments such as starting plants saved from food (avocado, pomegranate, citrus, etc.)

• Plan the garden to have results at regular intervals to avoid loss of interest. While your toddler might be ecstatic to have their own pumpkin in the fall, remember time passes much slower for kids. Plant flowers and/or vegetables that produce early and quickly, as well longer season crops.

• If you are involved with a youth group, do at least one or two gardening activities throughout the year. Gardening is always fun as a group and will create wonderful memories.

Every gardener I know or have read about recalls exactly when and what first connected them to a love of gardening. Perhaps it was the time spent gardening with a loved one as a child or their first job at the nursery down the street. Maybe, it was the first vegetable or flower they were allowed to grow. There are many fascinating stories amongst gardeners on how it all began for them. However, there is always one key element. Their interest in gardening was recognized and nurtured – usually starting at a very young age although some serious gardeners discovered the joy of gardening in their adulthood. To increase the likelihood of instilling the love of gardening in children, just follow the above tips and then watch them blossom.

As you can see in these pictures, it is never too early to expose them to the joy of gardening.

She must be the most precious little gardener I have ever seen. Thanks to “kobychicken” on Photobucket.com for sharing!