Kids at the lottie?

[Normans Mum]

No children on my allotment, or anybody elses for that matter, mainly because they're all oldies. Suits me just fine because I go to my plot to find peace, relax and grow things... .....not to have to listen to peoples children screaming and running around.

[alldigging]

We've got about 1/3 of our plotties being women.

We have a handful of kids between us all - someone has grown up kids and my lad is 17 now... few get stuck in and the younger ones want to play mostly.
The site isn't as developed as others though so I suspect things will change over the years.

[Aberdeenplotter]

My girl will be ten next month, her favourite thing is still digging a big hole and making it and herself as muddy as possible. She now has her own little 'hole are' to dig to her hearts content.

All the best gardeners start of with a hole I had a telephone pole in mine which I distinctly remember trying to dig out with a teaspoon as it was in the way when I played with my dinky toys. (I always liked a challenge ). As I grew older,the hole grew progressively bigger until my dad encouraged me to try to grow vegetables. He started me off with radishes and carrots. How I bawled when he showed me how to thin out the carrots. Killed so many of my seedlings. I now appreciate the need but it was hard at the time. Anyway, by the time I left home at age 16, I had half the lawn in veggies. I still love getting dirty in the plot in the nicest possible manner of course.

[Newton]

Unfortunately it's a bit uncool now for my teenage girls to help out at the allotment. Fingernails are meant to be kept clean and painted! They now only want to come along when the strawberries are ready.........and the peas........ thankfully they eat all the produce I bring home.......one day they might become interested in growing their own.

[WendyC]

My boys have never been that keen on coming to the allotment perhaps as they were a bit older when I got the plot they never got the bug. The eldest now 17 enjoys bringing his camera and taking arty shots of things like my muddy gloves! Can also be persuaded to do a little labouring if needed.
However there are a few children who come with their parents and I'm afraid so far I haven't been impressed. There is a toddler who is allowed to run over plots and on another, a boy who spends all afternoon needlessly pushing the lawnmower around and shouting over it to his dad. In fact he just shouts and is never asked to stop. They tend to be there Sunday afternoons. I avoid Sunday afternoons now.

[Bigmallly]

Plot neighbours in front of me are very considerate, they bring there toddler who is quite happy to play around on their plot but if he gets a bit fed up, as we all do from time to time, they simply pack up & go home.....Thank you neighbours.

[shona_b]

Although I think it is a shame that a lot of children have no idea wher their chips come from our allotments have found it difficult to encourage them! All of the paperwork - risk assessments, insurance etc that's needed for a childminder to bring their charges for a visit soon stopped that idea from one plot holder. There are all sorts of hazards on plots that many people may not be aware of - there is fox poo on many plots which I am told can be harmful? I have had a couple of young friends assist with potato harvest - more of an archelogical dig in its speed - but its not too often there are exciting jobs like treasure hunting to share!

[Storming Norman]

Up to this year all the kids who accompanies the parents were old enough to amuse themselves and the parent responsible enough to manage what their kids were up to.

This year and some new tenants of the kind who let kids wander then its sue if they get hurt. Noisy youngsters who run all over other peoples veg with their dog - grrr.

[areia]

I have a 13 yr old son and nearly 2 yr old daughter, then i ( what i currently call her ) part time plotter cousin who so far has just bought her eldest a 3 yr old ( demon) yet to bring her youngest,

If I have the toddlers there we stay max around 2 hrs cuz afterthat, they get a lil bored even with the toys they have bought etc and start to wander.
my daughter at the mo is quite good with the wandering sticks to paths, runs a mile if a big burly ole plot holder say 'ELLO to her hehehe then decide to pick daisies and dandilions puts them in there weed buckets saying for beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees, there is a plot full of chickens and alot of dog owners so the kid want to play with them
my 13 yr old gets stuck in with the work he finds it relaxing and even at his age has his 'hole' when he gets bored and just sits and digs

so thankfully its quite a child freindly allotment, one plot holder though bless her said she got to worried about the kids running around and filled in her pond, My attitude is if they fell in, they wont do it again in a hurry,
though plot next to me has gravel paths what do kids norm love to do with stones ? throw them lucky my 2 yr old just sits and fills her bucket empties and repeats then i make sure before we leave its tidy again :$ ( not met the holders yet hope they are nice eppp)

[Ozzieboy]

Our nearly 2 year old son loves it down the plot. He has all his own tools, including wheelbarrow and will copy whatever job you are doing. Last visit wore him out as i was back and forward to the communal woodchip heap, renewing our paths. He has never been a problem to others and will chat to the surrounding plot holders who seem to like the interaction.

Today he helped at home potting on the toms and chillis, although most of the compost appeared to be on him and the ground.

[donnakebab]

There are quite a few kids on our site. My new neighbours have 4 young children who threw all their litter in my compost heap. Mom and dad thought it was a communal bin??? They don't know much about having an allotment as all they do is pay the rent. I haven't seen them for a year now and the plot is overgrown...again. All the kids on our site are well behaved as far as I can tell and so are the dogs. One guy spends a lot of time there and his grandchildren spend time there at the weekends and holidays. We are allowed BBQ's and he has a Kellys Kettle so when the kids get a bit tired or bored it's refreshment time. He has an under cover seating area with a shed at one end.

My two grown up daughters have spent some time on my plot. One to sketch and take pics of blossom and flowers (she's a tattooist), and the other to sun bathe!

[VirginVegGrower]

Our daughter is very interested. When we first obtained our allotment it was a family affair and that included our son. Now he's older he stays at home and dog sits; that way we can get on without fear of interruption. I give my daughter tasks that I think she can handle on her own now, in order to build up her confidence. Our children are the only children I have seen up at our site, which is a shame.

[timf]

I took both my daughters from an early age
the eldest is now 15 and only comes up to eat the fruit in the summer
the youngest at 10 really got into it and ended up with her own 5 rod
plot and managed to win our local allotment association's young grower
last year. She does everything from digging to hoeing the plot herself.

[fairyclairy]

well, i have been taking my 3 kids and my friend her 2 kids (6,6,8,9,10) since we had the allotment, approx 1 month and they have been so good and got along well with the other plot holders and taking a real interest on planting and growing. They know not to go on anyone elses plot and respect other peoples spaces but I do let then go up and down the communal path to have a nosey at the other plots either side occasionally. Yesterday they were doing this and the next thing they were all screaming and running towards us as some grumpy old man in his shed shouted at them all to "eff" off and that he was watching them and why were they there anyway!! He then continued to shout and swear at them as they ran towards us....I wouldn't mind but they were only walking along and were doing nothing else lol!!

[CaroltheCarrot]

We have a "school" plot but all they do is run riot,how this is enjoyable for the teachers who come with them is beyond me.
My two will come along (19 & 16) if I have physical labour to do, that little old me cant manage, o and if there are pea pods and strawberries ready
One other plot holder brings his little ones down but all you hear is them screeching and him roaring at them to shut up,joy