Gardening is an outdoor activity that has many positive developmental benefits.
Not only does it encourage physical activity, but it also improves memory and learning, creativity, problem-solving skills, communication skills, and social skills—just to name a few.
Here are five fun gardening activities to try with your child today:
1. Play I Spy While Weeding
A game of I Spy is always fun, but weeding can be especially rewarding when your child spots one of her favorite things in nature (like ladybugs or worms).
This encourages children to look closely at their surroundings and connect with nature on a deeper level.
2. Gather Water Samples From Different Areas Around Your Yard
Have you ever wondered if water quality varies from area to area? Or wanted to test out a hypothesis about which plants grow best in certain areas of your yard? You can easily test these questions by gathering water samples from different areas around your yard and comparing them.
Take pictures of each area as well as pictures of each sample so you can identify them later.
3. Measure How Long It Takes Seeds To Sprout
Get creative with measuring cups and see how long it takes different seeds to sprout under varying conditions.
For example, measure how long it takes sunflower seeds to sprout after being planted in soil versus sand versus sawdust.
4. Make A Bird Feeder
Birds love homemade bird feeders because they make great homes for birds and can help you learn more about local wildlife. Making a bird feeder is easy; just follow these instructions.
5. Test Which Kinds Of Seeds Grow Better In Different Types Of Soil
Planting seeds is a perfect way to have some outdoor fun with your kids.
But did you know that some types of seed will not germinate unless placed in certain types of soil? Test out which kinds of seeds grow better in different types of soil by planting several varieties together.