Gardening is a great way to engage in hands-on activities with your children. Even at an early age, a toddler is content to fill containers with soil. Opportunities abound for teaching the benefits of growing plants that give beauty and food. As you walk around your neighborhood no matter where it is, point out or have your children point out and take pictures of various kinds of plants. They will soon learn to see things they haven't seen before.

Your children can watch seeds germinate. First, soak a few lima bean seeds in water for a day or two. Open them gently with your fingernail. You will see tiny leaves. This is the baby plant. Next, put a couple of lima bean seeds in a wet paper towel, place it in a clear plastic cup on a window sill. They can see the seeds open, the roots grow downward and the tiny leaves emerge. Lastly, show the children how to gently put the plant in the soil. Over time, your children will learn that plants need water, soil, and sunlight. As they grow, measure your plants to see how much they grow in 2 days or a week. Use a calendar to keep track of how long it takes to germinate seeds, for plants to grow to flower and then to ripe fruit.

Even if you live in a small space, you can have a small container garden. You and your children can anticipate eating your tomatoes, green beans, herbs, green peppers, etc. Looking through magazines or cookbooks and choosing the recipe you will use to cook your vegetables or herbs. There is a certain sense of satisfaction from being involved with the production of food from the ground to the table.