Getting my daughter involved

Hi guys and girls, I'm new here . I do a lot of gardening in the garden and our greenhouse which means that I do not have much time to bond with my 7yr old daughter so, I am thinking I will try to get her helping me out.

So, what can I get her to do ?

 

It will soon be bulb planting time. I am hoping to get my grandchildren involved with that. If they are safe with clippers they can learn to dead head roses. In the autumn after we have finished planting bulbs I am going to try to get them help me collect manure from a local stables and then spread it over the garden. I am also hoping that they will help me collect falling leaves and then spread them around as well.

G.

 

I forgot to say she is keen on nature insects etc so she will probably want to help me out just so she can see some insects.

 

There will be plenty of worms once you start digging in the garden.

G.

 

Have you got any small rocks, twigs leaves etc that need tidying up sure to find insects around.

 

What’s she like, @Gardening Guru? Girley girl or a bit of a tomboy?

With bulb season coming up, buy her some bulbs and give her a couple of pots. She can plant them up and they’ll be hers. It’s the wrong time of year now but come spring give her a patch of garden and she can sow whatever seeds she likes. Might be a good idea to stock up on seeds when the garden centres sell them off at 50p/packet. Other than that, give her tasks to work around whatever you are doing.....deadheading, tidying up in the greenhouse, planting things out or whatever. Just don’t ask her to do the weeding!

 

She is a girly girl .

 

Could she make a big hotel or two? Collect up different sticks, tie them together, for different insects...

 

That sounds pretty cool .

 

If you do a lot in the greenhouse, how about getting her to try growing things like avocados, lychees, lemons from seeds in food? Or interesting things like carnivorous plants, or sensitive plant? Cheap orchid plants are widely available too (eg £2.95 for decent little phalaenopsis in Home Bargains). Anything that can become HERS and not make her feel she's just working for you. (I failed to interest my daughter in gardening, so we just did baking together.)

 

I have nature to fall back on if she decides to give gardening a miss after a few days lol.

 

Only an idea, but I ony have interest in growing things I can eat, so fruit and veg. Perhaps getting her to grow things she can then enjoy after? Pulling up a carrot is quite enjoyable

 

Again, thanks for the advice , that is something I will try.

 

I work in early years childcare and all the children are actively encouraged to enjoy the garden. Just Google....loads of fab ideas!

Family activities: fun crafts for children and easy plants to grow / RHS Gardening

8 Garden Projects for Kids | Care2 Healthy Living

 

Here's a thought @Gardening Guru ..inspired by @Jack Sparrow ...October time how about she plant some crocus bulbs ,Your little one could do them in the lawn but spell out her name or anything she may fancy .