Gardening with a two year old

[Nicos]

I realise this section of the forum hasn’t been used for a while - which is a pity.
So…I’ve been having a bit of a read of a lot of the threads to get some ideas for when my two year old granddaughter comes to stay for a couple of weeks in the summer.

I’ve also been looking at some toddler links…

https://wonderadventures.co.uk/fun-a...ties-for-kids/

https://happytoddlerplaytime.com/the...-preschoolers/

She’s very much an outdoor girl anyway but it’s her first visit here and I’d like to spend quality time interacting with her in the fruit and veg and herb parts of our garden.
I have so many happy early memories of gardening with my grandfather and father and I’d love to set the ball rolling with our little’un

Do any of you have any suggestions which you’ve found fun with your very young budding gardeners?
Interesting links too would be lovely… * guess who is getting really excited ?

Thank you x

[Bren In Pots]

Nicos I’ve found a couple of sites that might be handy for gardening with little ones.

https://teaching2and3yearolds.com/pr...rdening-ideas/
then one from the BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-peo...h-kids/znrntrd

[Nicos]

Great - thanks Bren!

I’ve been sending her pictures of buttercups, daisies. dandelions etc so she recognises them and can identify them when she’s here. It’s lovely sharing such basic knowledge

[greenishfing]

Maybe plant a small patch that will be hers that she can water and dig and play in. I don't think you can ever go wrong with the combination of bucket, spade, water, mud and a small child. Of course fresh food to pick and eat straight from the plant helps too. My sister and I would love to crawl under my dad's strawberry nets helping ourselves and he used to pretend to be puzzled why he never had any ripe strawberries.

[bramble]

Nicos, that's a hard one to do if she is only with you for a few weeks.
Maybe plant some quick growing seeds like beans, peas or sunflowers in little pots that she can take home with her.
A few strawberry plants to look after while she is there, should be ripening around that time.
I have to say, at 2 year old none of my grandchildren showed any interest in gardening but loved going out to gather flowers, leaves, acorns and anything else that interested them.
Just enjoy the time....she will probably let you know what she wants to do.

[Nicos]

Great idea peeps! Any more will be greatly appreciated
I thought I might get a beach bucket and spade for her to play in the soil too. She’s had her tentanus injections so that should be a good start!

[Bren In Pots]

I have to say, at 2 year old none of my grandchildren showed any interest in gardening but loved going out to gather flowers, leaves, acorns and anything else that interested them.

At that age our grandkids just wanted to dig holes and make mud pies.

[Right Shed Fred]

In my experience, small people are very enthusiastic about planting and harvesting. Pretty much nothing in between (I.e. weeding). Planting some seeds and plugs will be huge fun. And then when they go back after two weeks you definitely have something to chat about to keep in touch - send pictures, tell them how tall the sunflower is etc.
Peas grow fast - if you soak them on the day they arrive they should have sprouts before they leave and they can even eat the pea shoots in a salad / sandwich. Peas are also good because kids know what they are - most kids know peas (at least in the UK).

[Nicos]

Good ideas there RSF…thanks!

[Jungle Jane]

Cress is fast to grow together,harvest & prepare in an egg sandwich or salad within a few days,besides growing seeds,do you have a flower press to make art or make other garden art things? We used to make miniature gardens on a bit of canvas or something flat,have pieces of rosemary or anything to create a bush,a rockery of stones & a bit of foil looks like water or use real water,with sand,that’s really enjoyable doing that

[Jungle Jane]

I’m just thinking,it will be difficult for a two yr old to know what flowers are ok to pick & what flowers can’t be picked so supervision all the time if you want some flowers out there unpicked

[Nicos]

Good call MH …thanks!

[bramble]

Just thinking back when my grandson was 2, all he wanted was a watering can and a rake.
I bought him a set of very junior garden tools and he got great use out of them.
He spent a lot of time filling his can from the outdoor tap and watering everything that was green.
I bought him a pair of crocs as he was forever turning the tap on and getting wet shoes.
Nicos, you must be so looking forward to having her visiting you.

[mrsbusy]

All my grandson wanted to was dig and poke with the dibber regardless of whether anything was growing there. And throwing anything he could find in the pond.

[Plot70]

I love the face children pull after picking an unripe apple and biting into it.