Category: Bez kategorii

When it comes to kids gardening projects, sowing seeds is hard to beat. The magical process of planting a seed and watching it turn into a plant has real wow factor, plus the chance to get really hands-on always appeals to little ones. Seed sowing is a brilliant way to learn about nature and the plant life cycle too.

Tips for Growing Plants with Kids:

• Use unusual containers – old boots, egg shells, tea pots, old pans all make for great pots
• Have everything to hand – compost/soil, seeds, watering can
• Make sure you have equipment that the kids can handle
• Teach the kids not to over water – start off putting less water than needed in the watering can and show them what it should look like when they water
• Get them to help to weed around the plants, plant out, water, feed and harvest

Giving children responsibility for growing and taking care of their own plants will also help to maintain their interest in gardening. The added bonus of growing plants from seed is that it’s a thrifty way to garden. A single packet of seeds has the potential to create a large number of plants, so you can fill your garden with flowers or grow a bumper harvest for very little cost.

Cress seeds

To avoid children’s boredom, choose fast growing seeds for kids. The quicker they can see something happen, the more interested they will be in the process.

Cress seeds

Cress is just great if you want to do something with the children where they can see the fruits of their labour early on. I would most likely go so far to say that it is one of the easiest things to grow and what’s more, you can grow this indoors – perfect for getting those green fingers ready for the spring. And it goes lovely in those egg sandwiches that you can have ALL year round!

Scatter in a small pot of compost, cover, water and keep in a bright place. Alternatively place onto moistened cotton wool or a paper towel.

Sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds are nice and big, so they’re well-suited to small hands. Sunflowers will grow happily in a pot, or you can plant them out into the garden once they’re established. There are so many varieties to choose from; try ‘Giant Yellow’ for show-stopping blooms, or ‘Teddy Bear’ for a fluffy, compact plant.

Plant your seeds in spring for summer flowers. You can plant them earlier, but you will need to protect them from cold temperatures by starting them off in a greenhouse, cold frame, or indoor windowsill. You will probably need to support the stems with garden canes as the plants grow.

It’s fun for each family member to grow a sunflower plant so you can have a height competition – just remember to name your pots!

Wildflower seeds

For truly low-maintenance seed sowing, go for wildflowers.

The wildflower seeds are perfect pollinators bee -friendly seeds.

Grow Beautiful Flowers in Your Garden to Help Bring Back The Bees. We all need to do our bit for the Bees and help them make a come-back with these super easy to grow Seeds.

Fill a pot with compost disc, sprinkle seeds and cover. Water and keep in a bright spot. We have grown these all year round indoors, they can also be grown outdoors in spring, summer and early autumn.

Pea seeds

Sowing peas with the kids is a wonderful fun activity for all ages. The seeds are large enough for small hands to handle.

Fill a pot with compost, push seed down 1cm, press top down firmly. Water regularly and keep in a bright spot. These peas are a good for growing all year round due to their hardiness.

WHY WE NEED TO PROTECT BEES?

Honey bees — wild and domestic — perform about 80 percent of all pollination worldwide. A single bee colony can pollinate 300 million flowers each day.

Role in the Ecosystem: Bees are a keystone species; if bees die off it will end most life. In nature, various animals depend on bees for their survival because their food sources – nuts, berries, seeds, and fruits – rely on insect pollination. Pollination also allows floral growth, which provides habitats for animals, including other insects and birds. Lastly, bees themselves, and the honey they produce, are a source of
food for many animals.
Ecosystem Services: While bee populations continue to decline, the production of food crops will decrease as well, as bee pollination is necessary for several important crops.
Bees are responsible for pollinating 35% of agricultural production and almost 90 different commercially grown food crops.

Easy Ways to Save the Bees:

Plant a Bee Garden

One of the largest threats to bees is a lack of safe habitat where they can build homes and find a variety of nutritious food sources. By planting a bee garden, you can create a habitat corridor with plants that are rich in pollen and nectar. You don’t need a ton of space to grow bee-friendly plants — gardens can be established across yards and in window boxes, flower pots, and planters. 

Go Chemical-Free for Bees

Synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and neonicotinoids are harmful to bees, wreaking havoc on their sensitive systems. Avoid treating your garden and green spaces with synthetics. Instead, use organic products and natural solutions such compost to aid soil health and adding beneficial insects that keep pests away like ladybugs and praying mantises.

Provide Trees for Bees

Did you know that bees get most of their nectar from trees? When a tree blooms, it provides hundreds — if not thousands — of blossoms to feed from. Trees are not only a great food source for bees, but also an essential habitat. Tree leaves and resin provide nesting material for bees, while natural wood cavities make excellent shelters. With deforestation and development on the rise, you can help bolster bee habitats by caring for trees and joining tree-planting parties in your area.

Build Homes for Native Bees

Did you know that, with the exception of honeybees, most bees are solitary creatures? 70% of solitary bees live underground, while 30% live in holes inside of trees or hollow stems. Species like bumble bees build their nests in undisturbed land, and you can provide safe haven for them by leaving an untouched plot of land for them in your garden! “Bee condos” — which have small tube “apartments” — allow species like mason bees to take up residence. They’re easy to make or purchase. 

Support Local Beekeepers and Organizations

Local beekeepers work hard to nurture their bees and the local community. The easiest way to show your appreciation is to buy locally-made honey and beeswax products. Many beekeepers use products from their hives to create soaps, lotions, and beeswax candles. Plus, local honey is not only delicious — it is made from local flora and may help with seasonal allergies! 

How to encourage little hands to plant, water, and grow using the easiest seeds and the best methods.

Children curious, like to learn by doing, and love to play in the dirt. Working in a garden, a child can experience the satisfaction that comes from caring for something over time, while observing the cycle of life firsthand.

Gardening gives children a chance to learn an important life skill, one that is overlooked in standard school curriculums. Gardening is also a great way to teach environmental awareness by exploring the workings of nature.

You don’t even need to have an outdoor space to enjoy gardening with your little one. A great way to introduce your child to gardening and the outdoors is by simply planting a little packet of seeds and growing them in a pot or window box.

To avoid children’s boredom, choose fast growing seeds for kids.

The quicker they can see something happen, the more interested they will be in the process.

Plants with large or small dimensions create a sense of wonder in children.

Tips for gardening with children:

Quick start your gardening

A great way to start is to plant quick-sprouting seeds so that impatient little ones can see the results of their hard work without much waiting around; sunflower, cress and pea seeds provide really easy results.

Stimulate the senses

Planting in the garden is a great way to stimulate your child’s senses of touch, sight, sound, taste and smell – soft flowers, bushes and plants that rustle, strong smells and bright colours all help to enrich your child’s experience of gardening. These kinds of sensory plants can be particularly beneficial for children with special needs and sensory impairments, as it encourages them to explore and enjoy the garden.

Mini tools

If your little one really loves getting out and about in the garden it can be helpful to buy a set of child-friendly mini-tools that they can hold and use by themselves. Having a little watering can, rake, trowel and spade can really help build your child’s sense of independence as well as their physical movement and fine motor skills.

Keep your little one interested

Your toddler may become completely engrossed in gardening with you, however be prepared for the fact that they may have a limited attention span and won’t be absorbed for more than a few minutes at a time. It’s a good idea to keep things simple and have other activities up your sleeve to extend your child’s interest.

• Get your children to make plant labels to mark where and what seeds have been planted
• Go on a hunt for minibeasts (e.g. snails, worms and insects)
• Explain how bugs and creepy-crawlies are good for the soil and plants
• Encourage them to hold these creatures gently and carefully so that they can see what minibeasts look like
• Make a compost heap and explain to your child what you can and can’t put in there

Ask questions

Keep them involved throughout the process and ask lots of questions so that they feel like they’re actively involved. Ask them where they think would be a good spot for their plants and why, how long they think their plants will take to grown and what they might look like.

What next?

Whilst their seeds are growing, keep them interested in the garden by watching a bean begin to sprout. Take a few sheets of a kitchen roll, wet them and roll them inside a pint glass or tall jar. Drop a bean seed down the side and watch as the bean sprouts roots. It’s a great way of showing little ones what’s happening underground.

How to help children connect with nature?

We live in a world overflowing with technology. Nature is something that’s often missing in the home life and school life of developing bodies and minds. ​Nature is ripe with opportunities to promote insight, critical thinking & scientific discovery.

The benefits of a childhood connection with nature

Many studies show the positive links between direct experiences in nature and children’s mental, emotional and physical health and well-being. The studies show that regular direct access to nature can:

• increase self esteem and resilience against stress and adversity
• improve concentration, learning, creativity, cognitive development, cooperation, flexibility and self-awareness
• prevent childhood obesity.

Research has also shown that through positive experiences in nature, children will develop their love of nature and a foundation for the development of responsible environmental behaviour. Studies of adults who demonstrate a commitment to protect the natural world suggest that childhood experience with nature plays a critical role in determining life attitudes, knowledge orbehaviours regarding the environment.

Here are some tips to help you provide your kids with the benefits of outdoor play in nature:

1. Start by going outside. One of the first places to start is getting outside into any sort of natural space close to your home—whether that’s a city park, a regional nature reserve, or a full-blown provincial or national park—and taking a simple trail walk or nature hike. Regardless of the size of the natural space, even small degrees of contact with trees, plants, animals, insects, and water courses can deliver benefits to you and your children.
2. Play simple games. You can also connect your children with nature by playing games in the natural space you’re exploring. You don’t need any equipment or expertise to play games such as follow the leader, I spy, hide-and-go-seek, and pick up sticks. However, if you are more ambitious and ready to do a little preparation in advance, you might even want to organize a scavenger hunt or try geocaching.
3. Let them get dirty. In the process, you need to be open to the idea that your kids might get dirty when they get into nature. In fact, if you’re doing nature “right,” you should probably see a little grime on their clothes and tree sap on their hands. Be sure to let them get dirty by jumping in puddles, building forts, rolling over rocks and logs to look for bugs and worms, and picking up sticks, leaves, and pinecones. All the while, their senses will be stimulated by the textures, sights, and sounds of the natural world around them.
4. Harvest The Memories. This is one of my favorites… Always remember that what happens after an outdoor experience is just as important as the experience itself. Learning doesn’t have to stop just because you come back inside. I always say there are two important phases in the nature discovery learning cycle. ​There’s what happens outside in the moment of exploration, and then what happens in the mind of your student as they think & reflect on the experience. You can help young people reflect on their experiences by asking questions and helping them think more deeply the memories.

• What was your favourite part of the day?
• What should we do with all those berries we harvested?
• What did you learn about plants today?
• Does anyone have any other stories about deer? I do!

You can complement outdoor learning with indoor activities like scrapbooking, journaling, drawing, and reading books appropriate to their age-group. This is how one simple encounter with a plant or bird outside can turn into a life-long journey of learning & discovery.

5. Make a list, set a date. Start by making a list of the natural spaces available nearby. Do you have a city park within walking distance of your home? Is there a regional or provincial park with hiking trails that you can easily reach by bike, car, or public transit? Once you have created a simple inventory of the natural spaces available to you, look at your calendar and see if you can schedule some regular outings with your children into the outdoors.

Looking for plastic free party bags, party favours and fillers ? Planning a kid’s party can be stressful, but since you’re probably determined to get it absolutely right, you may as well be sure that your party bags are on point, right? 

Most supermarkets stock party bag fillers, which are easy to scoop up when you’re doing that last-minute dash for extra juice and dips – but take another look.

Plastic medals, plastic yo-yos, plastic figurines, plastic bangles and plastic … um, what even are those things? All shiny and ready to be packaged up neatly in some brightly coloured plastic bags and sent home with guests whose parents will silently gnash their teeth at the influx of useless tat.

The guilt that goes hand in hand with parenthood may leave you feeling that you’re not giving the kids what they want if you don’t cram a party bag full of toys and sweets.

Sustainable party bag ideas for kids

With three young children, we’ve been to many birthday parties with our kids leaving with a party bag full of plastic bits, fun for a few hours but which hang around in our environments for decades. We wanted to create party bags and party bag favours which made kids excited and happy but not at the expense of our planet and the environment.

For The Healthy Family’s Bag, we’ve carefully sourced and handmade environmentally thoughtful items to give an attractive mix of party favours.

Our party bags are designed and handmade in Oxford in the UK.

GO GREEN!

Why fill up landfills with plastic when you don’t have to?

Help the environment, and feel better about your mark on this world with Healthy Family’s Party Bags.

They are made from sustainable, recyclable and non-toxic materials, products that are made in the UK and items that encourage children to be creative and spend time outside.

Kids LOVE plastic -free party bags! 

Why choose our Zero Waste, Eco- Friendly Party Bags?

• Plastic- free prty bags! No more plastic-filled party bags!
• Perfect party bags that don’t cost the earth!
• Pre- filled. Design, quality, give maximum attention to even minimal details to make them absolutely adorable
• Made of premium kraft paper, durable and very strong
• Perfect size 15x 8x 20cm.

Sustainable Party Bags are available in a range of themes: Save The Bees, Save The Minibeasts, Save The Planet, Save The Oceans, Woodland Friends, Christmas. 

Shop our range of Sustainable Party bags that they will want to keep forever – Not throw away as soon as the party is over!