April is National Garden month! Gardening with young children can help strengthen a child’s understanding of how food grows and where it comes from. It can support: .png)
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hands-on learning,
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practicing safe risk-taking,
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independence,
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and healthy eating habits.
National Garden Month is the perfect opportunity to strengthen your program’s Farm to ECE efforts or get started on new gardening projects. Explore some ideas for celebrating with the children in your program below.
Start a Garden
If your ECE program doesn’t have a garden yet, now is a great time to start! While starting a garden can feel overwhelming, you can always start small with container gardening. Try planting seeds in small containers on classroom windowsills. You can even borrow seeds for free at a local seed library.
If your program has a lot of outdoor space, you can grow food and plants in raised beds. Raised beds make the plants easier for children and adults to reach and harder to step on! You can also plant directly in the ground. This is an affordable way to go; just remember it may take more time to prep the soil.
If you have limited space, try planting on stairs, hanging pots on a fence, or utilizing roof space if available!
For specific tips about gardening in your area, find a master gardener nearby to help. Whatever you choose, explore Go NAPSACC’s Tips & Materials library and Gardening training for additional tips and ideas.
Expand Your Garden
If your ECE program already has a garden, use National Garden Month as an opportunity to plant something new! Find new seeds at your local seed library, or ask children what fruits or vegetables they want to grow. Involving them in gardening decisions can help build excitement and enthusiasm!
If you already have a container garden, you can move plants outdoors. You can also add flowers to your garden along with fruits and vegetables to attract pollinators.
Involve Families
Involving families in your program’s gardening initiatives can turn it from a classroom activity into a shared community experience. The key is making it easy, flexible, and meaningful for families with different schedules and comfort levels.
Invite families to plant, weed, or harvest together. More experienced gardeners can share tips and tricks while other family members can learn while they help. Try offering certain times of the day, week, or month for families to participate.
Send children home with extra seeds or with some of the produce you grow. Then families can start home gardens and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
You can also post photos of the garden on social media or in newsletters and classroom apps to share updates. Finally, consider asking families for their favorite recipes that use produce you are growing to incorporate them into children’s meals and snacks.
Garden Related Activities
If your program does not have a garden and getting started during National Garden Month does not feel realistic, there are still fun ways to celebrate! Plan garden themed lessons that teach children about gardening and its benefits. Take a field trip to a public garden or park and talk with children about how food and plants grow. Or, read children’s books about gardening. Explore Go NAPSACC’s Farm to ECE Book List for ideas.
There are plenty of fun and educational ways to celebrate National Garden Month for any budget or capacity. Try some of these ideas in your ECE program, or explore Go NAPSACC’s Tips & Materials library for more!