Gardening with kids is one of the most rewarding activities you can enjoy as a family. Not only does it encourage hands-on learning and patience, but it also introduces children to the joys of nature and the environment. Plus, gardening is an excellent opportunity to spend quality time together and watch something grow with your own hands.

This year, my friend and I—both self-proclaimed gardening beginners—decided to team up and co-parent a garden. Why? Because gardening with kids (and a little extra help from toddler hands) will hopefully increase our chances of success. We’re planting strawberries, tomatoes, string beans, radishes, zucchini, and cucumbers, with the hope that we’ll nurture a thriving, homegrown harvest. Will we succeed? Who knows, but the adventure will certainly be worth it!

• Gardening Teaches Patience – Gardening with kids teaches the importance of patience. Children learn that good things take time. Whether it’s watering, weeding, or simply waiting for a strawberry to ripen, the process of growing food is a great way to introduce them to the concept of delayed gratification. Gardening also helps develop other important skills, like responsibility and attention to detail.

• Learning About Nature and the Environment – Gardening with kids is the perfect way to introduce them to the wonders of nature. They’ll learn about plants, insects, and the environment, all while spending time outdoors. Plus, it’s a fun way to teach children about pollinators, composting, and why certain bugs are actually beneficial for our plants.

• Eating What You Grow – Kids are often more willing to try new foods when they’ve grown them themselves. Gardening with kids can help them develop a love for veggies they might otherwise turn their nose up at. Imagine a toddler picking a cucumber straight from the vine and proudly munching on it—now that’s a victory!

• Sensory and Motor Skills Development – Digging, planting, watering, and pulling weeds help kids develop fine and gross motor skills. Gardening with kids gives them the chance to engage with their senses—feeling the soil, hearing the rustling leaves, and smelling the flowers—making it a great all-around developmental activity.

• A Lesson in Sustainability – Gardening with kids is a wonderful way to introduce them to sustainable living. Kids will begin to understand where food comes from and how it can be grown in an eco-friendly way. As a bonus, growing our own food can reduce food waste and help us enjoy fresh, homegrown produce without the extra packaging.

Since neither of us is a gardening expert, we’re co-parenting this garden and supporting each other through the process. We’re hoping that, between the two of us, we’ll have the extra hands needed to keep our plants alive. Together, we’ll be planting strawberries, tomatoes, string beans, radishes, zucchini, and cucumbers.

We might not have all the answers (yet!), and we’re fully expecting some toddler mishaps along the way—like overwatering the plants or forgetting which sprout is which. But that’s part of the fun! Gardening with kids, much like motherhood, is all about learning as you go and enjoying the little victories along the way.

If you want to follow along with our gardening adventure, be sure to check out our Instagram page @PoMCasts for regular updates. From toddler gardening fails to exciting new sprouts, we’ll be sharing our progress as we go. We’re hoping this experience will teach us all about growing, patience, and—of course—how to handle those occasional, unexpected gardening challenges.