Gardens and kids

[bananalover]

I want my kids to enjoy our garden, but as fast as i'm planting stuff, they are pulling it up....help!

[taffetacatski]

Where are you planting stuff? What age are your DC?

Mine are a football mad 6 yr old and a loves picking flowers 3 yr old. Anything delicate goes at the back of the beds, in fact my delphiniums have a spiky sea holly in front of them.

If they are old enough, perhaps you can teach them to deadhead stuff when they are with you. I find if I let DD (3) do this with me, give her all the flower heads in a bucket, she'll happily make a potion with them for a while and then lose the urge to pick the others.

A lot of the advice is age dependent. If they are toddlers, keep it out of reach! If over 3, maybe get them involved in sowing the seeds and seeing them grow, something like marigolds are good for this. It does make them appreciate them a bit more.

Also do you have a veg patch? Mine are into picking peas, beans, rasps at the mo, this keeps the little one's mind off the flowers for a bit.

[bananalover]

Thanks for advice. My DC's are 8, 3 and 2. The 8 and 3 are ok, up to a point, but 2 yr old is a nighmare. As soon as he gets in the garden he starts grabbing soil and plants and throwing them everywhere. Have attempted to hang planters on the fenceso they cant be reached but it just looks naff and sad.

[taffetacatski]

Ah yes 2 year olds. I remember. Not easy.

3 options I can think of:

1. Time expending circuitous route where you spend hours with him explaining this that and the other, creating distractions, sowing seed with him, talking through the value of gardening blahblah

1. Erect barrier so he can't get at it. eg spiky plant

1. Wait til next year

I'd go option 3.

[meltedmarsbars]

Give him his own mud patch to grub around in and teach him not to pull up plants!

[Deux]

My sympathies. My 2 yo pulled up my spring onions. I felt quite weepy and mad at the same time and gave her a telling off. But I could tell she just didn't get it at all.

Everytime she goes near my veggies I just say 'no'. It's kind of working but I'm sure as soon as my back is turned... She does have a big digging patch which she likes filling up with grass cuttings and the like.

[Deux]

Oh, I do let her loose with the hose and she loves watering. Keeps her occupied. Two birds with one stone.