Gardening with a two year old

[Bren In Pots]

Ha ha ha….she doesn’t want to collect our beans and potatoes in it as it might get dirty!!!!

That’s so funny

[Nicos]

Ha ha ha….she doesn’t want to collect our beans and potatoes in it as it might get dirty!!!!

[Nicos]

Well…she’s here!
I bought her a tot sized wheelbarrow and it’s the first thing she saw when she came into the house! Very chuffed!

[Plot70]

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

[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.

[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.

[Nicos]

Good call MH …thanks!

[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

[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

[Nicos]

Good ideas there RSF…thanks!

[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).

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.