Sigman: Let your kids get dirty in the garden

Published 5:00 am Saturday, April 5, 2025

Gardening is usually associated with people in rural areas growing vegetables or senior citizens keeping their flowerbeds looking fresh — and for good reason.

Studies show people with a green thumb live longer and healthier lives.

Get your kids off their iPads

Adults spend too much time on their phones and devices. If you look over your shoulder you will see your kids doing the same thing. It’s an addiction that is hard to break. Getting your children outside, being active instead of passive, is a great reason by itself.

Quality time with your kids

Gardening is an outside activity that you can share with your children without going to the park or soccer field. It’s right out the back door. It’s something you can do for a few minutes a day or a few hours. One day you are putting in seeds or plants. The next day you are watering and checking your progress. Show me a child that doesn’t like to be in charge of the water hose. There is no such child. Prepare to get wet!

Boys and girls like to play in the dirt

I know there will be some exceptions but on most occasions kids like to play in the dirt. While gardening you are going to bump into bugs, worms, sticks and other obstacles that will fascinate your children. Let your son dig the holes for the plants. Let your daughter collect flowers, chase butterflies and observe hummingbirds. Give them the run of the place, to a certain degree.

Help your kids learn patience

In a world of instant gratification patience is a hard lesson to teach a child. With gardening there is no other alternative. Your flowers don’t bloom the next day. Your cherry tomatoes will not be edible for 6 weeks. However there are hints of progress every day. Show your children when there is a new leaf or a flower that will soon turn into a lemon or pepper in the next few days. Educate them on the importance of bees, birds and butterflies and their part of the pollination process.

These are just a few of the many things your children will enjoy about getting out in the garden. Our grandchildren have surprised us numerous times. One time I went out to collect some cherry tomatoes off our bush for a dinner salad, and to my surprise I found it picked clean — not by insects or birds but by our grandson. He must have eaten 20.

Don’t expect miracles and do not make gardening a chore, but something that you enjoy together.