A number of years ago, one of my favorite children wore a shirt that said, “Water me, I’m growing.” It was a cute saying, and it speaks to the real needs of children as they grow. They must be “watered” by the adults around them in order for them to grow tall, strong, self-confident, and capable of making sense of their world.
“Watering” is what we all must do and this column is an attempt to give adults who care for children some good ideas for helping children grow.
Watering means to me doing those things that help children develop.
Children don’t just jump from babies to school children to teens any more than tiny tomato plants accidentally produce tons of good tomatoes. The intelligent, successful, good students we want to have in high school are created by us day-by-day as we “water” and care for them.
Daily, just as with growing plants, we must do for them the things we know, or can learn to do, that will produce healthy adults.
Children learn by watching others and by doing. Children often replay what they have learned. They enjoy pretending to be mothers and fathers and playing grocery store, beauty shop, car wash, etc. They copy adult behaviors and language.
This is why teaching your children isn’t hard to do. They want to be like you and to do what you are doing. The hardest part if to do those things that will be the most useful to your child as he grows. Even protecting our environment is easily taught through fun activities with adults showing children how to care.
We all must protect our world so it will still be around for our children and our grandchildren. Since children learn to enjoy, respect, and protect the environment by watching adults, what are some ways adults can teach and show children while having fun with them and not giving up all our adult free time?
With very young children, kitchen gardening is a great way to begin. Tops from carrots “planted” in egg cartons grow quickly in kitchen windows. Place the cut side down and keep water about 1/2” deep. Soon tiny green sprouts will develop and grow to 6 inches or taller. White or sweet potatoes will rapidly sprout great tops and bottoms, showing easily the root system and leaves that come from the water. Stick four toothpicks to support the potatoes in a glass and put in a sunny window. Even plants that die have lessons to teach.
All living things do die, and the reasons such as not being watered or not having enough sunlight are opportunities for learning new words and concepts.
Using containers of any kind for gardening projects makes less work and more fun. Old tires, boxes, baskets, pots, buckets, etc., make an enclosed area that is easier to weed, dig, and plant. Containers need gravel and/or holes in the bottom for drainage, add dirt and plants. We have had more tomatoes than we could eat from 32 plants started in an old tire with one bag of topsoil. We planted several varieties of flowers with the tomatoes and had great fun because little real “work” was involved.
The time spent with children in selecting the plants, learning new words as discussions are held about plant names, colors, varieties, growth needs, is quality teaching time. Children learn best when what they are learning about is real, concrete and relevant to them. What better fits that description than learning about how food grows, using real tools and working with adults they care about.
When planting with impatient younger children and teens, remember seeds are slow. We all tend to want results NOW so think of plants that will grow rapidly enough to keep their interest. Some plants like begonias and impatiens that grow easily from cuttings of a few established plants can provide many more. Just root in water in windows and plant.
Don’t be ambitious; start small and remember the purpose is to have fun. Even a few minutes a day spent cutting or planting over the summer will provide a beautiful and functional garden “plot” that everyone will enjoy.
Darby Kethan has a master's degree in child development, and has experience as a social worker, educator of young children, educational consultant, and as a professional trainer for a national educational foundation providing professional development to teachers. Visit her website at darbykethan.com.
