Involve Them at the Beginning. Let the kids be involved in selecting the garden spot, choosing what to plant, and how the garden is divided up. The more involved they are at the outset, the more committed they will be to the garden’s success.
Divide and Conquer. Several gardening dads recommend dividing the garden into segments and assigning an appropriate segment to each child. They would then be responsible for weeding and cultivating and eventually harvesting their section. It is pretty easy to tell who has worked their section and who hasn’t as the summer progresses. And a little peer pressure from the more responsible ones works wonders.
Create a Schedule. It is easier to weed and work the garden early in the morning or late in the evening when the weather is a little cooler. Maybe Saturdays at 6:00 a.m. is a good time to devote an hour or so, followed by a family breakfast. Find one time a week when most of you can work together. It will take more time than an hour a week, but at least you have some scheduled together time.
Try Paper Cups. A couple of my gardening friends recommended taking a small paper cup and cutting out the bottom and placing the cup over the top of where seeds were planted. Some children have a hard time distinguishing between good plants and weeds—then everything outside the cup is a weed! At least until the plant is grown and recognizable, this is a good approach.
Share the Profits. A garden can be a good money making project as well if the children grow and their sell the products from the garden. If you are growing an entrepreneurial garden, let them keep the profits beyond their expenses. Given an economic incentive, kids will often perform well.
Go For Sensory Pleasure. This doesn’t mean what you think…. It means planting vegetables and flowers in part for their color and texture. Remember that kids need variety in their lives. So put some yellow marigolds around the red tomato plants, or add some squash varieties that have a different texture. Make it fun.
Conclusion
Gardening can be great fun for dads and kids, and an opportunity to commune with nature. It can also be a great way to teach responsibility and to bring focus to a child’s life. Be a great dad and incorporate gardening into your fathering tool box.
