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Want to get your kids out of the house, off of the couch, away from the computer? Introduce them to Container Gardening. It might not be as exciting as the latest video game or action movie, but parents will not have to worry about what the kids are being exposed to while they are playing in the dirt in their little gardens. The kids may be in danger of being bitten by the container gardening bug, but please do not treat with repellent or calamine lotion; this is one bug you want to nurture. Once upon a time kids spent lots of time digging in the dirt. Kids and dirt, dirt and kids; it’s a natural. Let them experience the personal satisfaction that comes from watching something beautiful grow and blossom. Let the little ones and the not so little ones select clay pots that can be personalized. Painting these containers can be an especially satisfying project for all of the family. They can also make garden stakes with their names on them and place the stakes in their containers. Take a trip to a garden shop and help the kids select plants and flowers that are low maintenance and those that will give them quick results for their efforts. You don’t want them to get discouraged waiting for something to bloom. Let them pick out a small watering can that they can use in caring for their gardens. Let them choose their favorite colors of seasonal annuals and tell them they can decorate the deck or patio or front porch with their garden container works of art. Display the containers in a favorite wagon. This would also make the container gardens easy to move if necessary. Suggest to them that a gardening journal would be fun to keep. Most kids like stickers and crayons and markers of all types and colors. They could put all of those to good use in their journal; drawing pictures of the flowers or making notes of when they watered their gardens, or noting that they saw butterflies or hummingbirds or even bees buzzing in their very own container gardens. Hang on to the information stakes that are usually in the pots when you purchase plants and keep them in the journals, too.
When it comes to the actual planting in the container, parents need to supervise, but let the kids do most of the work or rather have most of the fun. Explain the importance of how the flowers should be placed in the container and how much water is needed, and emphasize that these gardens and the flowers in them will only survive if someone takes very good care of them.
Maybe container gardening will become a family tradition. Trips to the garden center may become as much fun as a trip to the park or the pool. Well maybe not, but the time spent with your kids will be a blessing to both kids and parents. For all too soon your tiny little sprouts will be growing, blossoming and moving on.  Dig. Plant. Water. Watch it grow. Be blessed. You will love container gardening. And remember, 'This is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice.'
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CONTAINER GARDENS FOR KIDS