kids can do-it-themselves Build it, collect it. Children’s Education Supervisor Karen Mann has created projects that kids can make themselves (or with a little help from you!).
Collecting nature’s nuggets
Fairy furniture and dragon dens
(ages 4 to 6)
(ages 7 to 9)
How many pine cones, rocks, leaves or sticks can your kids find in the backyard or on a nature hike through a local park or ravine? Whatever they find, kids love to collect, feel and sort what they’ve discovered. It’s a fun and educational way to observe the different textures, shapes, sizes and colours found in nature. Here’s a simple way for kids to create their own sorting bin. • Choose a knick-knack shelf, tray, egg cartons or anything that has many compartments. (Even an ice cube tray will work!) • Lay it flat on a sturdy surface. • Take a nature hike and collect any loose natural objects that you may find. • When you come home, start sorting your treasures. Big or small; rough or smooth; heavy or light; you can sort them any way you want — even by colour.
Kids love thinking about mythical creatures and using their imaginations to create secret places for them. Here’s how you can help your child build fairy furniture, dragon dens or enchanted homes for their favourite characters. • Pick a spot in the garden to use as a secret home. • Help your child collect small natural items such as acorns, seeds, sticks, pebbles and leaves. • Assemble the pieces to resemble fairy furniture, a dragon’s lair or a princess’ castle. To enjoy these special places with your children, ask them to explain about the mythical creature that might live here. Does it fly? What does it eat? Where does it sleep? Ask them to draw a picture and write a story about it. You’ll be amazed where their imagination takes them when they explore and create with nature.
goTo torontobotanicalgarden.ca/kids for More nature- and garden-related projects from TBGKids.
Garden Gear
1. The results are in (from
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The crème de la crème of watering cans are made by Haws, and now there are ones for little gardeners. Haws kids watering cans come in a range of fun and vibrant colours — they’re so attractive, mom and dad might want one, too! One-litre size, $19.99
Three tool shed essentials for kids
our unofficial survey)! Parents, grandparents and our teachers all agree that the most important gardening tool for budding gardeners is a quality watering can.
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2. While, really, we recommend that tiny hands feel the soil, these little critter garden gloves are too cute to resist. Lil’ Buggers, $3.49 Lil’ Princess, $7.99 Little Helper, $7.99
torontobotanicalgarden.ca
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3. The next most popular activity — children love digging in the dirt (soil, if you please). For growing youngsters these adjustable shovels and rakes feature telescopic handles that lengthen as kids grow taller. $9.99 each
kids can grow • spring 2013
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