GARDENING

GARDENING
Encourage kids' creativity
Kids and gardening are a natural fit. After all, gardening involves water and dirt. Children can lend a hand with many garden chores. And the fruits of their labors may just sow the seeds for a lifelong hobby. Some tips:
Choose a small, flat, sunny site.
Label or mark the garden or pot with the child's name.
Plant kid-friendly plants. Vegetables -- lettuce, peas, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers and beans. Flowers -- sunflowers, hostas, petunias, begonias, marigolds, zinnias and snapdragons.
Don't overdo. Make it relaxing and positive. Take plenty of breaks.
Be hands-on. Allow the child to plant, mulch, weed and water.
Leave room for failure. One wilted snapdragon will help kids learn what happens when plants aren't watered.
Allow experimentation. Focus on the child's development, not on growing perfect plants.
Source: Scripps Howard News Service