Kids at the plot. What you can do.

[Sarico]

Hi I have an 18months girl and I want to do some activity at the plot and I wonder what do you do with your kids?
I thought about sunflower and let her look after some flower. at home she is interested play with soil filling up pot and empty but I hope by the time is Summer she will be more careful. What do you suggest?
Thanks

[Knight of Albion]

What about nasturtiums? That's how I started. A no-brainer to grow. Big, colourful flowers. Interesting foliage. Child-proof!

[Lumpy]

Do you have the space for a small sand pit - one of the ones with raised edges? If so she might enjoy a bucket and spade and the sand won't hurt your veggies as long as they are not buried in the stuff.
For my grandsaon I bought some seeds that had a gnome on the front and then went to the pound shop and bought a gnome. Joshua and George (the gnome) had great fun - but be warned we now have George, Graham, Grenville and Gervais Gnomes in the garden. The names were curtesy of grandad - bless.

[arpoet]

Big seeds and little hands work well.. beans, peas, sweet peas, beetroot, sunflowers, nasturtions..
Planting daffs and other bulbs in the autumn,... so many ways to get them involved.

[Sarico]

So I'm in the right way. I have done weeks ago broad beans and nasturtiuM. I love the idea of a sand pit maybe I have a bit of space for one. Thanks a lot everyone.

[sparrow100]

If you haven't already, a little watering can can keep kids busy for HOURS. The watering may be a little uneven, but the courgettes/beans/nasturtiums won't mind.

[Greenleaves]

My Grandkids have their own area, little play house, sand pit and insect corner.
(5 and 2) not really interested in growing yet just getting dirty

[bearded bloke]

A couple of old threads, you may be able to glean a few ideas from

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tie_64764.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ved_52474.html

[bearded bloke]

A few more

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...dren_5219.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ning_9647.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...n-o_28511.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ren_81897.html

[muddled]

mini bug hotels are fun to make and even better to examine!
A book of common birds with good pictures along with a 'tick' list on the shed door kept my little one interested for the longest time! (educational too)
And that idea for the little watering can is right on the money!

My daughter's favourite thing though at that age, was piddling on the compost heap
(she's twelve now and will be mortified if she reads that )

[Sarico]

A few more

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...dren_5219.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ning_9647.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...n-o_28511.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ren_81897.html

Thanks for the links I don't know why when I try to search for something I don't get many result. I love the idea of beans teepee for her to hide underneath. Been still little now I'm not expecting a lot from her but next year definitely her own bed ( I have a spare one out the crop rotation so every year she will have a new bed in different position.

[bearded bloke]

Pleasure Sarico

The forum search isn't brilliant, but I went into Advanced & then selected Search Titles Only rather than the Search Entire Posts, the did a search on .. kids ..& another on .. children

[Two_Sheds]

I'd say the men's ideas tend to be goal-oriented, eg have a patch/project, a specific role or job.
Whereas, ime of gardening with 100s of small children, they are actually happiest just playing: sifting soil with their hands, digging, and watering. I could get Garden Club to do nothing but watering every week and they'd love it.

Mind you, don't expect it to be done properly! Just provide buckets, cups, bottles and various plastic cutlery, and let them play while you get on with jobs.

Top tip: pack spare clothes

[Two_Sheds]

The forum search isn't brilliant

and that's generous.
I type "growfruitandveg" into Gurgle, followed by "children" "kids" or whatever

[WendyC]

Thank goodness you are thinking about child centred activities. So often we have new families join the site and they bring the kids who are bored within 5 minutes because weeding is not the job they are interested in doing. So the children find things to do, usually involving shouting and screaming, so the adults shout at the children. At this point I go home. It's not that I don't like children, I work with them and want some peace and quiet when I'm not at work!
I hope you have many happy days with your daughter in the fresh air.