A Kid-Friendly Garden

Several years ago when my nieces and nephews were small, I hosted an annual holiday scavenger hunt in my

garden right before Christmas. My husband and I spent many hours buying little gifts and treats, wrapping them up and hiding them in the garden.  Boy did I miss an opportunity! Instead of toys and treats, I simply could have given them a list of natural things to find in my garden – a shiny rock, a burgundy maple leaf, a stick with lichen on it, a pine cone – you get the idea. They could have discovered some of nature’s treasures and I still could have offered prizes at the end.

Many parents want to give their young children educational experiences that encourage an appreciation of nature. Trips to museums, the zoo and the aquarium are high on the list of must-visit places to expose children to the natural world. Often kids gain lots of knowledge about nature but little actual experience. They learn about exotic animals, endangered species and saving the rain forest but have little contact with the critters and plants that call their backyards home. Why not take your child outside this summer for a hands-on nature adventure in your own garden?

If you ask a child what he or she would like to add to a garden to make it more kid-friendly, you’ll get great

ideas for enhancing your outside space. Kids like play areas where they can run, romp with the dog and play games. They also like private places like playhouses, tree houses and secluded areas where they can build a fort. Kids love water, viewing wildlife and digging in the dirt. They enjoy having trees and rocks to climb and plants to tend.

As part of the “No Child Left Inside” movement, parents are challenged to create nature discovery zones in their yards. A discovery zone is simply an area where kids can have hands-on experiences with nature.

To create a discovery zone that attracts wildlife, add some birdhouses, bird feeders and a bird bath. Help your children research and select plants to add to the garden that will entice birds, butterflies and bees. If you are handy, build a small pond and fill it with gold fish and Koi. Small water gardens will attract frogs, turtles, dragon flies, birds and other critters that love being

near water.

Start a compost bin and watch your kids learn first-hand the science of decomposition and an appreciation of good dirt. Not to mention, they will be captivated watching worms squirming around in the developing compost.

Kids love to garden if given some simple instructions and then allowed to create their own plot. Let kids choose the plants, help dig the holes and nurture the garden. Children are attracted to plants that are edible, carnivorous, fragrant, blooming and have foliage with interesting textures. Some plants that children enjoy are sunflowers, herbs, tomatoes, pumpkins and marigolds. They will love checking on the progress of their plants each day.

Once you’ve established a few discovery zones for kids to enjoy, make it a priority to get outside with them for a nature adventure. To enhance their experience, give them a few simple pieces of equipment – a trowel, a

magnifying glass, a pair of binoculars, and a camera. None of these items need be expensive! With a trowel or spade, children can dig and create their own garden or just discover the tiny creatures that thrive in the soil. A magnifying glass can bring these creatures up close and personal. A pair of binoculars lets kids explore the tree tops and seek out the birds visiting the feeders. A camera allows a child to record the wonders they are discovering.  They will be using all their senses and their imagination.

Try your own nature scavenger hunt this summer and invite the neighborhood kids to participate. You’ll be amazed how excited young kids get collecting nature’s treasures and how much they will learn! For more information about nature adventures in your own backyard, go to: http://www.kidsdiscovernature.com/