It is never too early to allow your child to help out. While I had my daycare, I also taught myself gardening and every time I worked in it, one or two of the kids would try to help out. Rather than discourage them, I made them part of the learning experience. Giving a young child responsibility works two ways: they learn what is expected and they earn their own sense of accomplishment.
Concepts for a successful garden:
· Talking to your flowers and encouraging goes a long way. TLC is required to insure steady and healthy growth.
· Adding structure to your garden will be necessary so that is does not grow out of control. Do not be too rigid, leave room for FLEXIBILITY.
· Framing/forming creates a defined look (it is also an excellent people skill to teach your child).
· Growing, planting, weeding, cultivating, and mulching (a protective covering of organic material laid over the soil around plants to prevent erosion, retain moisture, and sometimes enrich the soil) are all aspects of gardening and can be applications of children’s development needs.
· Good communication and nurturing allows for a child to grow and adding structure gives them the direction needed until they can make decisions on their own.
Getting started:
First you prepare the area you want to plant in by clearing away and debris and weeds. Sometimes this may involve digging out deep-rooted bushes or just clearing a plot to plant in. Then, putting down some good top soil is advantageous but not always necessary. I find it helps to have a healthy base to begin with but flowers can still grow without it, maybe not as quickly though. Nutrients can make a healthy difference in progression.
It would be a beginner’s mistake to think that growing in top soil is all the nutrition/nurturing a flower needs. A flower will need to be feed a healthy diet of nutrients since weather and time take away some of its valuable nourishment. The process is continuing. The same can be said of a child. It is essential to lay down a healthy foundation, but foolhardy to think that the work ends there.
At first I researched which plants would be easiest to grow but then I just took some chances and created my own (pattern). I made sure I understood which plants could tolerate full sun and which needed shade and then planted them appropriately. Still, there were always surprising exceptions!
The same concept can be true when rearing a child. A parent could have a child who follows expectations but then the next child seems to decide to grow outside that (design) and it can create havoc if the parent is not prepared for wildflowers. (It is just this diversity that provides an assortment of diversity)
Planting/Parenting Terms: terminology for the same expectation—Success.
1. Fertilizer-nourishment, stimulants. (breast feeding, vitamins and healthy food choices)
2. Loosen teasing and tickling helps the roots not to grow in circles. (allow ample room for growth and scattered with laughter, tickling, stimulation, and discipline)
3. Hardening plants so they can become stronger-exposing to the elements and possible dangers. (teaching children the facts of life and making them aware of possible dangers but not being too over-protective)
A child/flower is constantly evolving so we must keep up. This can be as simple as weeding or as complicated as learning new technology but any effort will be worth it if it generates a healthy, happy and productive yield. The progress of a healthy blossom can be very rewarding. In a garden, this means amazing colors and growth. In a child, this can mean the difference between a healthy or dysfunctional child.
Gardening is about LIFE. It is also relatable to raising a child. Starting small is a good idea till you have a little knowledge and experience. Planting your flowers is just the beginning. They need protection from the harsh elements and insects. They need exposure to sun and water but not too much of either one or they can be damaged irreversibly. Children need parental protection and direction.
There will be some conditions out of our control (like weather) but being prepared is key. Children never follow the same blue print so it is essential to have flexibility even when we think we KNOW WHAT IS BEST.
A child is like a garden—its needs are many. There can be amazing blossoms or withered weeds. Involve yourself in your child’s life and involve your child in the business of life. Gardening is a great way to bond, learn, and have fun all at the same time
