You might not think there\u2019s much you can accomplish when your child is only a toddler, but it\u2019s as much an important developmental stage as all the others and can get them acquainted with nature early on. Consider taking baby steps (no pun intended!) like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Touching unique leaves and plastic pinwheels<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Smelling all the flowers and gently picking them<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Listening to the sounds of nature and windchimes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Digging the earth and holding worms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Two – Five Years Old<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/burgerfarms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/child-g945fbb668_640.jpg\")
Girl Picking Dandelions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n At this age, kids are really starting to have high energy and often unpredictable moods, so it\u2019s important to establish some great activities that can calm them, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Collecting seeds and making seed balls<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Watering plants with a child-sized watering can<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Digging holes for you to plant and helping plant seeds<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Picking up sticks in your yard<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Being read to and looking through books about gardening<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sweeping paths and sidewalks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Five – Nine Years Old<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a time of learning patience and trying to be like the big kids, so here\u2019s a great step towards more independent work, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Keeping a garden journal to track progress and learn from the past<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pulling weeds<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Harvesting berries<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reading seed catalogs and how to plant on their own<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Raking leaves and making a compost pile<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Painting garden stones and flower pots<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Nine – Twelve Years Old<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they\u2019re preteens, kids are itching to feel more like an older, responsible adult. Try giving them more independence through projects like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/burgerfarms.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/house-g66489813b_640.jpg\")
Fairy Garden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n - \n
- Helping you pick out flowers, fruits, vegetables, or trees for the home<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Designing the home garden, arranging flowers, making a terrarium or pond in a pot, and creating a themed or fairy garden<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Joining a plant science or garden club<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Regrowing plants from the scraps and seeds of old plants<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Building a drip irrigation system<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Planting a tree<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Twelve Years Old and Up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019ll be on their own before you know it! You can give the gift of responsibility while flourishing creativity that inspires in activities like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Mowing and other lawn care<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Exploring careers in horticulture<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Growing a vegetable garden or taking on a landscape project<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pruning trees and deadheading flowers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Identifying and helping to remove invasive species<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Supporting endangered species and creating a habitat for them<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Many of these can be done at different ages if you know your child\u2019s interests and capabilities. You can also never go wrong with giving research assignments that might pique their curiosity or going on field trips to garden centers like ours!<\/p>\n\n\n\n