[Grandma_Lizzies_House]

Planting and caring for a garden is a great way to spend time with your grandchildren. They love digging in the dirt, finding bugs and worms, and making mud pies. Gardening gives children a sense of responsibility and accomplishment and helps them learn about the environment. It also gives you an opportunity to talk with your grandchildren in a relaxed setting. Whether you’re planting a large or small garden or a pot for inside the house, gardening is a simple and inexpensive way to build a special bond with your grandchildren.

1. Plant flowers together and measure growth on a special chart. It you don’t live close, send a seed packet to your grandchild and both of you plant at the same time. Plan to call or email once a week to compare progress. This will be interesting if there are two different climates.
2. Make a card or design with pressed flowers from your garden. To preserve, iron the slower between waxed paper and cut out.
3. Plant something in a clear plastic cup so you can see the root growth. Plant herbs in egg cartons filled with cotton.
4. Decorate clay pots with buttons, ribbons, paint, etc to hold a special plant
5. Write a story about what you planted in a pot or in the garden. Flowers and trees can be the characters. Use paper with a special gardening border available at stores that sell scrap booking supplies.
6. Paint or decorate a picket fence to go around the garden. If you planted something in a pot for inside, you can use a cardboard box or poster board to make a fence around the container.
7. Decorate a small watering can and fill with gardening items and book to give as a gift to your grandchild.
8. Plant a tree or bush in honor of someone or something. Write a notes and bury it with the roots.
9. Plant a tree or bush and have your grandchild make a goal to go along with the growth of the tree. Keep track of the growth of the tree and your goal.
10. Using craft sticks, paint and decorate markers for your vegetable garden. Write the date they were planted and by whom.

[chio88]

I agree

[jmmv08]

My mom and my daughter both love gardening. I usually saw them in a garden in a relaxing setting in the afternoon. That's why I know that gardening is a simple way to build special bond.