Teach Your Child Responsibility and Boost Confidence with this Simple Daily Task: Planting Seeds (Alfalfa, Grass, Beans, Etc…)

As parents, we all want our children to grow up to be responsible, confident individuals. It’s a crucial part of their development, and we’re constantly looking for ways to encourage it. One simple yet effective method is gardening. Planting seeds can teach children valuable skills and traits such as patience, nurturing, and accountability. Plus, it’s a fun activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family. In this blog post, we’ll explore how planting seeds can benefit your child’s development and offer tips on how to get started.

Planting Seeds (Alfalfa, Grass, Beans, Etc…)

Suitable Age: 3+

Materials: 

• The tray consists of :
  • A small container with a lid (containing seeds)
  • A pitcher (with a line)
  • A small bowl
  • 2 sponges ( 1 small, 1 large )
  • A towel
  • A small placemat
  • 1 piece of paper towel
• A bucket for water activities

Direct Aim:

• To plant seeds independently

Indirect Aim:

• To watch things grow (Life)
• Concentration
• Hand-eye coordination
• Independence
• Order of sequence

Presentation/ Child instruction: 

1. Once seated, invite the child to put the placemat in front of the tray, remove the paper towel sheet from the tray, and place it on the placemat.
2. You may ask the child to open the container and pick out a few seeds and then scatter them towards the center of the paper towel.
3. Invite the child to fill the pitcher with some water to the line. Once the child returns, she may pour the water into the small bowl. Ask the child to fold the paper towel in half grabbing it from the two bottom corners and lifting slowly to align the corners. Then invite her to fold the paper towel in half again, but in the opposite direction (grabbing the two corners on the left and aligning them with the two corners on the right). Invite the child to pick up the large sponge and place it inside the bowl to absorb some water.
4. Invite the child to squeeze the excess water from the sponge and then place the sponge on top of the paper towel sheet, dabbing it until the paper towel seems moistened.
5. At this point, because of previous experience, the child may discard the water, and then use the towel to dry the bowl and water which may have dropped. The child may arrange the tray back to its original condition. She may also place the wet towel in the laundry basket and replace it with a clean one.
6. Then invite the child to bring the tray back to the shelf. When she returns, you will explain to her that the seeds require her to monitor them on a daily basis. They will also require sun and to be moistened
7. The child may then take the placemat with the seeds to an assigned area in the classroom where they will receive sunlight.
8. Remind the child to check on her seeds daily to see if they have begun to grow or need more water.

Point of interest:

• The idea of being able to do something that an adult does, growing a plant, taking care of vegetable life

Control of Error: 

• Moistening the paper towel too much/too little
• Tearing the paper towel
• Spilling water
• Spilling seeds
• Forgetting to keep the seeds moistened

>> Read more: Teach Your Child Responsibility and Boost Confidence with this Simple Daily Task: Changing the Water of a Flower Arrangement.