Article Written By: Jordan E Raley

As the weather has started to warm up in most of the United States, families are gearing up for lots of time outdoors this year. While there will be many adventures, both near and far, below are some great ways to bring plant appreciation and outdoor fun to your family right at home.

Get to Digging

Children of all ages love to dig a good hole. If you’re creating a new landscape or refreshing garden beds from years past, a small trowel is all you’ll need to encourage the kids to get digging! As your child throws dirt around, remember that dirt is great for the body’s microbiome so don’t fret too much if Junior is covered and needs a bath after.

Planting Seeds

Showing children where their food comes from is a great and simple way to help create healthy eating habits and appreciation for plants. Whether you’re starting seeds indoors or dropping them in ready-made outdoor beds, many children will enjoy the slow and steady process of helping something grow.

Watering & Pruning

While doing this may turn into a water hose fight, show your children the importance of well hydrated plant life. Watering plants may take some time to fine tune but creating this chore will be more like a fun habit when kids get the hang of when to water and how much. Pruning provides an excellent time to discuss over/under watering as well as color recognition (ex: “please pull the brown leaves off of this plant as those are now dead”). The more hands on, the better.

Fairy & Gnome Gardens

The whimsy that comes from creating Fairy or Gnome houses can’t be beat. Have you ever passed a fairy garden created in a nook of a space that otherwise would have gone unnoticed? Magic. Repurposed tree trunks, the base of shrubs, or even asymmetrical terrain are great spots to add a little window here, a door there, a small pebble path, maybe even some solar lights that come alive once the sun goes down. Watch faces light up when they see the magic they’ve helped create.

Butterfly & Bee Oasis

Native plants are great not only to keep blooms and growth local to your region, but many varieties (like Butterfly Milkweed and Coneflowers here in Chattanooga) are natural attractors of bees and butterflies alike. Create a small, simple bed that’s just for these varieties and call it your Insect Oasis. Having children engage in picking out and planting these will come with the added advantage of them getting excited to see their favorite insects thriving.

 Rock gardens & fountains

While not plant specific, rock gardens and fountains are wonderful addons to landscaping that create wonderful texture and a sense of Zen for homes. Children will have a ball creating fun rock sculptures or pathways and decorating fountains or bird baths.

Painting flowerpots & stones

As a gift or to add a personal touch, painted flowerpots or garden stones are a wonderful way to get creative kids involved in making plant beds colorful, imaginative, and special. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Teacher Appreciation Day make the perfect excuse to provide these as affordable, timely gifts to friends and family alike.

Remember: regular time outdoors helps children young and old thrive. Your own home is a wonderful backdrop to take part in reviving your landscaping while getting the whole family involved and creating growth, one plant at a time. Don’t forget the sunscreen!