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Spring is here and we finally get to spend more time outside. Our family is big into gardening and we have been teaching our kids since they were able to walk. My oldest is almost 3 and has really starting to understand and be more interested in where her food comes from. Making a root viewer is incredibly easy and will teach your kids how things grow from inside your own home. In my video below, I demonstrate how easy and inexpensive it can be to make your own.
Materials
- glass jar
; doesn’t have to be really nice, I found mine at the Dollar Store
- organic soil
(especially if you are planting edible foods)
- a small shovel
- organic seeds
(bean seeds work the best for root viewing)
- water and sunlight
; doesn’t have to be really nice, I found mine at the Dollar Store
(especially if you are planting edible foods)
(bean seeds work the best for root viewing)Tips
- plant the seeds as close to the glass jar as possible for easy viewing
- use bigger seeds, such as beans, to view roots within a few days
Why educational?
- kids tend to eat more vegetables if they are helping to grow and harvest them
- exposure to dirt can help build their immune systems, especially in our world of chemical laden anti-bacterial soups, sanitizers and disinfectants
- promotes communication and planning while spending quality time together as a family
- lets them see how mother nature works first hand and how we are all part of the eco system
Resources:
PBS :: Gardening with Kids : How It Affects Your Child’s Brain, Body, and Soul
NPR :: Healthy Eaters, Strong Minds : What School Gardens Teach Kids
