Top 10 Summer Plants for Kids

Strawberries - Kids love to eat them straight off the bush
Strawberries – Kids love to eat them straight off the bush
There are so many amazing plants that fruit and flower in summer, it’s really difficult to pick just a few – but here’s Gardening 4 Kids top picks for summer 2014-15! Continue reading

Super Easy Plants for Kids to Grow

Cherry tomatoes on bush
Cherry Tomatoes are super easy for kids to grow

As much as us parents would like our children to jump straight in and love gardening, it’s not always the case.  Some kids need lots of encouragement and some quick, easy ideas to help spark their interest in gardening.

Of my four children, only two of them have naturally been drawn to the pleasure that gardening can bring.  The other two needed a gentle push along the way.  And two plants in particular have assisted my family over the years – geraniums and cherry tomatoes.

Both of these plants are super easy to grow and kids get a real thrill from successful gardening experiences. Continue reading

Guest Post: A Sweet Pea Tee Pee for Saint Patrick's Day

Narelle Debenham from Natured Kids
Narelle from Natured Kids explains how to build a sweet pea tee pee.
Today’s guest post is from Narelle Debenham, founder and director of Natured kids, a weekly outdoor playgroup for families and young children on the Mornington Peninsula. Narelle, registered teacher and mother of three boys, aims to have a positive impact on children’s lives, while deepening their connection with and understanding of our natural environment. For a free checklist of outdoor activities to inspire nature play with your children visit Natured Kids.
Sweet Pea Tee Pee - fun for kids
Build your own sweet pea tee pee with the kids this Saint Patrick's Day.
St. Patrick’s Day marks the time of year when sweet pea seeds like to be planted in our gardens. Forty children from the Natured Kids outdoor playgroup planted these sweet peas to make a living, scented, sweet pea tee pee to play in at the Groundswell Community Garden in Frankston.
To make your own tee pee with the kids in your garden you will need: Continue reading

Edible Flowers for Kids

marigolds, sunflower seeds and lavendar are great in salads
Marigolds, lavendar, sunflower seeds and fuchsias make colourful additions to salads
Kids love the thought of being able to eat flowers and there are some great varieties that can be grown in any garden. Edible flowers are a wonderful way to add colour to meals and can make a salad more appealing to kids. Many edible flowers are fantastic for attracting beneficial insects and repelling those that are not so welcome so growing them is not only great for your kid’s dinner plate but good for the garden too. Continue reading

Guest Post: Tips for Gardening with Kids in Small Spaces

Kids can grow and eat produce in small spaces.
There is plenty that can be grown in small spaces for kids
This great guest post is written by Shae from Yay for Home. Shae is a stay-at-home mum with 3 amazing little girls, 1 wonderful husband, 4 chooks and 3 guinea pigs. Today she is sharing her fantastic ideas on how to garden with kids when space is an issue. Enjoy! Continue reading

Flowers That Kids Love

Take time to smell the flowers
Smelling flowers in the garden
Little Miss B has recently become fascinated with the flowers that are growing in our garden. Two of her favourites are marigolds and fuchsias. She enjoys looking at their bright colours, touching their petals and of course picking them! She is certainly not the only child who loves to do this. Flowers are very appealing to children and there are endless varieties that are great to include in the garden for the kids.
Some popular flowers that appeal to children include:
Continue reading