Encouraging a Love of the Outdoors Through Gardening

I grew up loving the outdoors. As a child, I lived practically in a tree in our yard. My dad built me a treehouse perfect for me to play in and get away. I would watch the clouds pass me by. Other times, I would be stuck with my nose in a book. That tree opened the doors to let my imagination run wild!

I’ve shared my love for the outdoors here and here.

I spent a lot of time outside with my dad. I’m pretty sure this started my love for everything in nature. We spent countless hours outdoors together. I grew up doing this. I remember riding along with him to fix fences. We spent days on the lake fishing. We bore the cold and snow to scout coyotes or deer.

We all need our unique connection to nature to appreciate it. If we interact with it deeply, we will all have our own stories and unique memories. These experiences will spark our love for the outdoors.

As a new gardener, I recognize the impact gardening can have on younger generations. It creates that personal connection to the outdoors. This article encourages you to get outside with your little ones. Start that love for the outdoors by getting in the garden together.

Encouraging a love of the outdoors through gardening

Gardening is exciting and valuable, especially for those wanting to involve their kids. This joint activity has many benefits, although you do not recognize them initially. Luckily, I’m here to help.

You and your children need to spend as much time outside as possible. As an adult, I’m sure you find it easy to recognize the need. You can go out for some fresh air and an hour of gardening.

But children sometimes need a bit of guidance. Whether you already have a garden space or are considering starting, I have some incredible gardening tips. Get your little ones outside and do some planting together! They will value the newly acquired perspective, and you will love spending quality time with them.

Here are some of the best ways to help your children discover how to find love for the outdoors.

Learn as you grow – and grow with your children!

Let’s be honest; almost everyone can enjoy spending time in their garden. This fun activity includes nature, sunshine, colors, adventure, and learning! Besides having so much fun, children can also learn new things. They understand what gardening is and how to start an outdoor garden.

Developing new skills is essential, and if you’re considering involving your kids in the process, don’t think twice! Here are all of the things they’ll learn:

They will discover the blessing of being active and how to do something productive, fun, and good for the environment.
This will also give them a sense of responsibility. Providing the plants with the best care possible is essential. It’s an excellent method for teaching them what responsibility means.
Loving nature through discovery. Allow them to go on little adventures in the garden by themselves and give them the safe environment they need. Let them learn about plants uniquely, involving the weather, the science behind plants, nutrition, the environment, and more.
Children want to be creative. Show them how exciting it can be to grow your food and keep them entertained. If you’re willing to engage with them, they’ll appreciate it and look for more.
Learn. As I already mentioned, children need to grow and learn. Setting small goals to achieve will help them discover new information. It is a great way to teach them something new.

Keep them interested

Gardening for children can be an interesting activity if you know how to approach it properly. If you’re already considering creating an outdoor garden with your children, here are a few things to consider.

Give them space and only a few rules. Keep the instructions simple and easy to remember, and make them as fun as possible.
If they have a few friends, you can invite them to a little planting party!
Give them the proper tools. Depending on the child’s age, give them appropriate tools to handle.
Encourage them, help them, and push them to send. Young children like to play in the dirt. Let them know that it is okay to dig, and check them while they do that.
Give interesting plants and help them grow your food from scratch.
Building a scarecrow from scratch is an interesting point in the entire experience. This is an interesting pastime activity, and your children will love it.

Keep them safe

Naturally, it would help if you ensured your kids were always safe, including while in the garden. There are a few measures you can take to secure the environment, like:

Make sure that the sprays and fertilizers are out of reach. If you are on the fence about using chemicals, I strongly recommend going natural. Forget about chemicals overall.
Secure all the gates and fences. After all, you are dealing with children and don’t know what they do next. Create a safe and secure area for them. This way, you don’t have to worry whether they’ll storm out of your backyard constantly.
Get a big umbrella on those warm summer days, or give others thick shade. Your kids can be very fragile and must always be tended to, so keep them away from the hot sun. Also, apply sunscreen before you let them out to play in the garden.
If you have toddlers, never leave large buckets of water around. Instead, give them a smaller, appropriate bottle and let them try watering the plants with it.

How do you find love for the outdoors?

It’s genuinely so simple. No matter your children’s age, you can answer what gardening is. You can explain how to do it properly. You can create a lovely atmosphere for all.

Think about the age. Whether you’re dealing with a teenager or a toddler, each has different expectations. They have different expectations once they step on the site. Teenagers have different expectations. Toddlers have different expectations, too. If you have younger children, remember that you must supervise them constantly, so don’t leave them unattended. On the other hand, bigger children can understand the responsibility behind running a successful garden. They can even take on some larger tasks. Give them the freedom and the tools they need, and watch them thrive.

Gardening can be a blessing for everyone in the family if appropriately utilized. Make sure you have all the right tools for it. Step outside your comfort zone with your little ones.

I truly hope I’ve given you enough information on how to start an outdoor garden. You can start planning at once. Plus, it will be a fun activity for the whole family!

For more ideas, check out:

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and their Kids Outdoors Pinterest board
Kids Gardening
“10 Inspired Gardening Projects for Kids” by Melissa Willets at Parenting
“Kids’ Gardening” at Better Homes & Gardens
Nebraska Forest Service Conservation Education

Join the conversation by commenting at the bottom of the page:

Why do you love the outdoors? What memories do you recall that drew you in as a child?
How do you garden with your children or the little ones?
What other ways can we engage kids in the outdoors today?