Kitchen Garden Forum

Thanks for all the replies and entertaining dialogues!
I think I gave the wrong impression a little. I'm the mother of a six foot 16 year old and a slightly shorter 13 year old as well as the aforementioned 2 1/2 year old, so I'm actually pretty aware of the joys of parenthood, though thanks all the same.
I think what I was after in particular was suggestions for specific little jobs that others had found toddlers particularly enjoyed. In summer it's no problem because 'watering the garden' is a great activity.
Unfortunately number 3 son is most definitely the last of the brood so he won't have a sibling to play with while with me out in the garden.

Eating the carrots and peas seems to be a fav.occupation of my smallie! but caterpillar squashing comes a close second......
Carole

Carole B. wrote:Eating the carrots and peas seems to be a fav.occupation of my smallie! but caterpillar squashing comes a close second......
Carole

Glad it's not just me who loses a large proportion of her pea crop to enterprising fingers (not to mention blueberries and strawberries).
But caterpillar squashing - great idea!

Last year whilst house sitting for us my daughter told her ste daughter age 3 that the french beans were 'seety trees' not having come across veg plants before she ate the beans and now likes them cooked as well ! what about a wormery and an ant farm great for them to watch and feed or maybe stick insects if a privet hedge nearby in a tank of some decription or a large sweet jar ?

sorry my keyboard is sticking I meant 'step daughter 'and' sweety tree' whoops have to get it cleaned!!!!!!!

Last year, my children were just interested in what would come out of the ground after they had planted their seed.

However, there were times when I spent a lot of time digging my plot and the kids had little to do. Therefore, I just gave them their own little area to do what they wanted with it. Yes, they dug holes!!!

I have three children, so knowing the rules of the allotment, they wandered off and did a bit of hide and seek, played with someone's dog and dug more holes (on my plot). The also loved the rides in the wheelbarrow.

This year, I will arrange a treasure hunt on my plot. I intend to draw a map including clues and directions etc so they can find the pre-planted treasure.

I'm also planning to buy some child size tools so that they can maintain their own little bit of the plot. Who knows, they may even eat their veg and fruit as well.

Another game we play is spot and name the vegetable and/or fruit. Kids these days know very little about fruit and veg only that its available in packets from your local Supermarket. Shame!

My kid's school also run a Garden Club. My daughter is too young to attend (she is year 1) which is a shame because out of my lot she is the most knowledgeable and interested.

I too would welcome further ideas from parents who keep their young ones busy, amused etc on the veg plot.

Set aside a patch of ground for them to make their own. Try what i did , plant a couple of sunflowers one tall and one not so tall . Unbeknown to them they have the tall one. Make a competition of it they love it when they beat you at the end of the year. Make sure the flowers are the same colour though.

The second year on my allotment (almost into year 4 now)I decided to let my daughter, then aged 5, have a patch of her own. She was really interested in the idea of growing things for herself and had often amazed us with her ability to recognise and remember the name of all sorts of plants.
She did find seed sowing a bit difficult and the results were too slow, but bedding plants were quite successful, as were lettuce seedlings.
She grew several good sized pumpkins which were promised to friends for Halloween, but unfortunately these were all vandalised or stolen. Luckily she wasn't with me when I discovered what had happened...cost me a fortune at the supermarket to replace them all! Our site is now properly gated and lockable so hope this wouldn't happen again but I wouldn't like to bet on it.

Glad I'm not the only one who does a bit of fibbing to cover up in the garden. Me youngest planted some carrot seeds but they never came to much. One day I anounced over breakfastI was going to enter a few classes in the local show and she decided she would show her carrots! I didnt have any at the right stage to pull and had to dash down to the market and buy some with the tops still on - splashed them with a bit of cold water to revive the foliage and 'planted' them in the garden just intime for her coming home from school and for her to harvest. I managed to perswade her to enter a basket of herbs rather than the carrots - I couldnt take the fib as far as the showbench! so she presented them to granny instead and helped granny make soup out of them. At least shes still keen to grow stuff - had the carrots been a disapointment I may have been harder to kep her intrested

Harvest them -one American comedian -when asked if he liked children; famously replied that he did! they were delicious with mint sauce!! (tounge in cheek)al