The art of creating a better world for a living is gardening…
Gardening is a skill polished by research and experiences. It needs patience, tolerance, and knowledge in mixed proportions to grow a garden. It is not easy to cultivate a full garden without any proper knowledge of plants and herbs. The necessity of different plants is different; some need more watering while some need less watering. Therefore, the requirements of each plant should be separately understood and taken care of.
Photo Credit: http://www.doublescribble.net/kid-garden-ideas.shtml
The blooming buds and greenery everywhere are nice scenery to see. It costs you nothing more than your efforts and patience to see your garden growing into a land full of healthy plants and perennials. Ensure that you are avoiding the danger plants in your garden.
Gardens are for ALL…
There is no age bar or such restrictions while entering into a place where greenery is appreciated and grown. You will never see a notice board outside a garden restricting the entry of children or kids. In fact, gardens and playgrounds are places where children grow playing.
They learn a lot from these gardens by seeing the nature’s beauty and fascination. They create their wonderland in their minds while playing in a garden full of colorful flowers and lilies.
Children’s are taught from a small age that how plants create their food. They are fascinated by the fact that how can a seed turn into a big fully grown green plant by photosynthesis. They also know the importance of gardens in their ecosystem. There are many perks of having a garden of our own but for this, we first need to initiate it by putting up our efforts in right direction.
We all know, the age of 8-10 years are the ages when children learn the most and they are very enthusiastic during that time. They try to put up everything they have learnt in a single place and this is where they learn to implement their knowledge.
Children’s Guide of Gardening
Photo Credit: http://www.corvallisenvironmentalcenter.org/become-a-sage-garden-docent-this-fall/
Working with your small kids in your garden requires a very safe and healthy environment and also some specific rules so that injuries don’t take place from sharp tools or chemicals. Plants with sharp-edged leaves and thorns on them should be kept far away from children’s approach.
Safety measures should always be taken with kids in the garden, whether it is a small one or a big one. Some tips and careful steps are:
- Thorough testing of soil for toxic chemicals should be done before inviting students to participate in the garden.
- Teach every child the basic rules and regulations while entering a garden.
- Discourage mischievous behavior in the garden.
- Sharp tools and chemically toxic fertilizers should be placed away from the reach of children.
- Discourage eating any fruit or flower without the permission of supervisors.
The Joy of Gardening for Children
In countries outside India, even children do garden with proper knowledge taught to them in their schools. They sow seeds of small plants and wait for the plants to grow with patience to give away fruits and flowers.
Photo Credit: http://www.recirculatingfarms.org/blog/
Together, teacher and students share the joy and experience of gardening. Children create beautiful small or big gardens by their imagination and creativity. But the important thing behind this is they should not be given sharp tools and slippery scissors while gardening.
This can be an exciting and cheerful task to see children’s ploughing and cultivating the land. We can see the look of curiosity on their face which will give us a feeling of satisfaction and happiness.
Do It Together
As elders and responsibility holders, we should support children with their every questions and curiousness to know more. The work should be carried hand to hand with kids specifically. We can help them ask relevant questions without hesitations and can encourage them while doing their job. We should teach them about the importance and benefits of gardens for mankind.
By doing so, we can make a committee in which teachers/parents and students work cooperatively to produce gardens both outdoor and indoor. This can improve their communication skills and increase their knowledge of different plants and herbs.
Things to Keep in Mind
Gardens with green plants and bright blossoming flowers are fun and easy to grow. The perks of having a garden with the fragrance of roses and lilies are many. We can smell or see, but we cannot examine them by their physical appearances that some plants or herbs have toxins in them.
These toxins in a single plant can make the whole garden poisonous. Many can make you feel sick if you consume them, on the other hand, some can cause even more harmful effects just by touching their leaves or stems. It can result in a variety of symptoms including:
- Dizziness
- Skin irritation
- Stomach
- Seizures
Hence, some plants are poisonously fatal for health. Some plants carry toxins in large quantities while others may have just a small proportion of it. For an example, petals of tulip are not poisonous, but their bulbs carry toxins and can cause harmful effects if eaten. Meanwhile, some can be poisonous to animals but not to human beings.
Few Simple Rules for Gardening Kids to Stay Safe
Photo Credit: http://life.wilko.com/teaching-kids-gardening/
- Do not eat any plant or flower Unless you know what it is and if it is edible or not.
- Adults should make sure that their children follow every rule everywhere outside in the garden.
- Teach children to wear rubber gloves before touching any plant as toxins can transfer in their body even on touching.
- Adults and teachers should make sure that they supervise young children when picking or plucking something from the garden without knowledge. They are children and not so intelligent to distinguish bad things from good ones.
- The phone number for nearest poison control center (1-800-222-1222) should be saved in your contact list in your phone. If someone is accidently exposed to any poison, then call right away for fast and expert help available 24 hours a day.
- Consult your veterinarian for a list of plants that can be poisonous to your pets or even stray animals.
Connecting with Children
A strong and friendly relationship should be established with children so that they never hesitate on asking even small stupid questions also. Events and seminars should be organized for encouraging children’s gardening skills and special workshops to polish the same skills.
Children growing gardens are very enthusiasts and curious. For keeping their hopes up, they must be awarded small awards and prizes for their excellent work and dedication.
Chances of an accident or mishap may prevail, but care should be taken to avoid one while handling kids in gardens. Some are allergic to small insects and bugs too, make sure they stay away from each small and tiny insect to prevent any serious accident to take place.
Photo Credit:http://www.parenting.com/article/gardening-kids
Our Tip to All the Kids Out There…
Children employed in the task of gardening are self-motivated and enthusiasts. They should be even encouraged to plant more green and healthy shrubs to support the ecosystem. Just a few safety steps and some careful measures are to be taken, and you can be an excellent gardener with great gardening skills and energy for gardening. This generation can inspire the upcoming generations too.
I’m impressed! You’ve managed the almost imsploibse.
I am very happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the random misinformation that is at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.