HELP CONNECTING TECHNOLOGY-OBSESSED CHILDREN TO GOD'S WORD PART 8

Gardening and Landscaping

In my previous post, I concluded the discussion about connecting technology-obsessed children to God's world by encouraging your children to share their gifts with others.

If you recall from my blog, technology-obsessed children want to get their hands on things. They are very often kinesthetic learners. One of the examples that I talked about in my blog for these children was gardening and landscaping. This is an idea that gives these kids lots of opportunities to plan and design before the start of the project. It also takes perseverance for them to see these types of projects through. With Spring just around the corner, we thought we'd give you some ideas to try out with your child.

Gardening

Start your own garden

One of the most important parts of this project is to have your child help in the planning process.

Here are some things to have them research before starting a garden:

• Where will the garden grow the best?

• What kinds of things do they want to plant?

• Are some plants and vegetables easier to grow than others?

• What materials will they need?

•  What shape will the garden be?

• What will their schedule be for maintaining the garden?

• Will they need fertilizer? What type?

• How will they protect their garden from pests?

• How will they label their plant?

• Do they want to decorate their garden?

If you already have a garden in your yard, let your child add on to it by giving them their own new area to plan out and take care of.

Grow an Herb Garden

Materials:

Pots:

• Pots of various sizes that can be used both indoors and outdoors.

  
  

  For an environmentally friendly choice, think about using biodegradable pots.

Soil:

• High-quality potting soil that is nutrient-rich.

  
  

  Consider soil with sufficient drainage to prevent root rot.

Seeds or Seedlings:

• Select herbs that are simple to grow, such as parsley, mint, or basil.

  
  

  Little gardeners who are impatient may find that seedlings are a quicker solution.

Gardening tools:

• Kid-friendly equipment like a watering can and a little trowel.

  
  

  To keep small hands safe and clean, think about using gloves.

Watering

As you water your herbs, make sure the soil stays damp but not soggy.

Put your finger approximately an inch into the soil to check its moisture content; if it feels dry, it's time to water.

Sunlight

The majority of herbs require 6–8 hours of sunlight each day.

Put your herb garden somewhere that gets plenty of sunlight, such as a windowsill or an outdoor space.

Tips for Harvesting

To promote growth, harvest herbs frequently; pinch off stems or leaves as necessary.

Herbs are most flavorful in the morning before the sun dries up their essential oils, so this is the best time of day to gather them.

Outdoor Landscaping Project

Let your child help design and decorate around the outside of your home.  You can have them pick one spot, like the deck or front porch. Or you can give them complete freedom and see what they come up with!  This project is full of planning potential, which is what these kids thrive at! Here are just a few ideas to get started:

Flowers:

What kind of flowers will they plant? Where do they want to plant them? Will they plant them in pots or in the ground? Where will they thrive? For example, how much sunlight will they get where they will be planted during the day? What colors would look the best?

Other types of plants:

Ask the same questions as the flowers. What kinds of plants could be planted together? Are there any that you shouldn’t plant because they are unsafe for people or animals?

Construct a Trellis

A few bamboo poles or long, straight sticks will make a very basic trellis. The first step is to evenly space two or more vertical poles by securing them in the ground. For instance, use four anchor poles and "plant" one pole firmly in the ground every four feet to create a trellis that is four feet wide.

Now, firmly attach horizontal cross-poles to each upright pole using twine. You can teach your children some neat knotting techniques or let them tie knots in a creative way. Your children can assist in choosing the style of the trellis; there are no strict guidelines for spacing.

Finally, your child can choose whether to plant something or purchase a plant that will grow up the trellis.

Make a Rock Garden

Pick a spot in your yard like around the mailbox, the path to the front door, or the corner of a flower garden to make a rock garden! These can be super fun to plan out and also visually appealing. Take some time to look at pictures of different rock gardens for inspiration and then consider the following.

• Where would a rock garden look the best outside of your home?

• How much space do you have available?

• Pick somewhere that has good drainage and would work well if there are already plants in that area.

• If you will be adding plants to your rock garden, what type will they be?

• What type, size, and colors of rocks will you use?

• Will your rock garden have a theme?

• Will you decorate any of the rocks yourself?

• Will you be adding any other features to your rock garden?

• What will the focal point of your rock garden be?

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