How To Teach Children About Plants
 (Read 500+ times)
By Glory Lennon
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The mistake most people make when wanting to teach something to children is thinking they have to “go by the book”. They feel they have to open a book and talk about things in technical terms so the children will learn properly. While this may be true it won’t necessarily capture the kids’ attention. When has learning “properly” ever been fun? Kids are more apt to learn when the subject is presented in a fun and imaginative sort of way. Therefore, in order to teach anything to kids we should make it fun even something as un-fun as plants.
But that isn’t quite true, is it? Gardeners, botanists, apothecaries and horticulturists all find plants fascinating and yes, even fun. But what exactly about plants would children find interesting enough to want to learn about them? Let’s take a look at how to teach children about plants.
Seeds.
Did it ever occur to you that kids would find the common every day seed as possessing magic? Actually, it does. Think about it. It is a tiny little spec with the power to grow into a plant. A plant no less that could make a pretty flower, grow a tall, imposing tree or even a fruit you can eat. Then to make the magic complete, the flower, the tree or fruit makes more seeds. Whoa! Talk about amazing.
Seeing Is Believing.
Give a little kid a sunflower seed, watermelon seed or even an acorn to hold in his hand and then show him what that tiny seed will turn into. This is where a book, flower seed catalogue or a garden website will come in handy. But nothing beats going into the yard, a park, a garden or a farm stand and seeing it for yourself.
Container Garden.
Once he knows what a seed can turn into, have him actually plant a few seeds in his own container. This need not be too big, a yogurt cup will do to start. To make it more interesting for him have him choose which seeds to plant. It is astounding how proud a kid can be growing something himself.
Botanical Gardens.
Botanical gardens are a marvel to the parent wishing to indulge his aspiring little botanist but it’s also a place to have fun. Many botanical gardens have separate Children’s gardens with fragrant herbs to touch and sniff and touchable plants to feel. The soft, wooly leaves of Lamb’s Ear, the fleshy tear-drop shaped leaves of groundcover Sedum and the spiky Thistle are as diverse as you can get but they are still all plants with special properties all their own.
Then there are the “scavenger hunts” to find certain special plants, dancing water features, butterfly houses, tree houses, whimsical water fountains, creepy crawly demonstrations and giant insect sculptures scattered about the garden all designed to interest kids in plants. The funny thing is it really works.
The Herb Garden.
Show him several plants used medicinally. Chamomile tea for soothing frazzled nerves, Spearmint to chew on for fresh breath, Basil for intestinal infections and Catnip to drive a cat crazy or to make you fall into a peaceful sleep. Have him touch, feel, taste. Plants as medicine is way cool!
The Vegetable Patch.
Have the child pick out his favorite vegetables ( even if he doesn’t have any) and give him a bit of earth not unlike Mary Lennox of “The Secret Garden”. She found the delights inherent in plants merely by weeding her secret garden. Learned a lot about them too, she did as will your child when he tends the patch himself. He may magically like the taste of snap peas he grows himself. Of course, they might not make it to the kitchen if he snacks on them right then and there. Hardly a tragedy.
Attack Of The Clones Revisited.
Show the kid a simple little trick plants do when the plant feels under attack, namely vegetative propagation. Show him a Coleus plant, Sedum Autumn Joy, Golden Pathos or any willow and take a piece off of it. Show him how it can sprout roots when placed in water. Then tell him that he just did his first cloning. He cloned a plant all by himself. At this point you might want to cover your ears unless you like to hear over-excited chatter.
See the beauty of teaching kids about plants? They have fun, you have fun and the world of knowledge has expanded that much more. So, if you really want a kid to get into plants simply show him all that others find fascinating about them which, of course, is everything.
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 For more amazing garden facts, a glimpse at an unfinished novel and amusing short stories visit http://www.helium.com/users/32782
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