Last summer my 5-year-old daughter, Mary Elena, and I planted a few carrot and radish seeds in a small patch of otherwise neglected dirt near our garage. I bought her a little watering can shaped like an elephant (the water came splashing out of the trunk), and she tended to the tiny sprouts first thing every morning. Seeing the wonder in Mary Elena's eyes as we watched the shoots get bigger was priceless. Her pride in the harvest—we served “her” carrots with dinner several nights—was boundless. (She was even willing to try a radish. Who knew?) This summer we're expanding our backyard crop by adding lettuce, beans, and raspberries.L
Gardening is a terrific family bonding experience, says Rebecca P. Cohen, author of 15 Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect With Your Kids. “A garden gives you a place to connect with each other year-round; even in winter you can draw up plans and talk about what to plant.” Plus, everyone can enjoy the fresh air and exercise (digging, hoeing, hauling!). “When kids are outdoors, they work up an appetite,” notes Cohen. “Tasting veggies right from the garden becomes a new way of snacking—and kids are indeed more likely to taste vegetables they grew themselves.”
