How To Engage Teenagers In Gardening Activities

Introduction

Gardening has many gifts to offer to kids and adults alike. From encouraging physical activity, to lessening irrational fears, to connecting with nature, the benefits are endless. It is easier to involve children in gardening, either with their parents or friends, while adults can give it a try anytime, in between work. Things become a tad difficult with teenagers and adolescents as they are usually too overwhelmed by the crashing wave of puberty, real life, and change to engage their attention elsewhere. However, gardening can help teenagers navigate the murky water of growing up with ease.

Since gardening sharpens focus and improves mindfulness in all, it also helps in letting go of unnecessary and uncontrollable fears and worries. After a trying day at school or tuition, gardening for a brief half-hour period can also soothe their minds and help release stress, which may otherwise be carried into the household. Physical activity and mental bliss also help teenagers sleep better and perform well in academics, sports, and other creative pursuits. Also, it helps children digitally detox without any frustration or tantrums. Here are some easy tips on how to engage teenagers in gardening activities.

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Tips To Engage Teenagers In Gardening Activities

1. Appeal To Their Taste, Go For Themes

Since teenagers are in a phase where they are trying to discover their identity and likings, let them customize and create a thematic garden. It will keep their attention piqued and involved. If your teenager is going through a rebellious phase and likes going for dark or black colors, choose plants accordingly. Help them decorate it in as spooky or as flowery a manner they wish and make them responsible for it. Even if their garden is full of cacti and succulent, it still does the job and offers benefits for their overall health and wellbeing.

2. Grow And Teach Nutrition

If you wish to improve your kid’s relationship with food, try teaching them the seed life cycle in relation to nutrition. Pick choice of seeds from a meal’s leftovers, like tomato seeds, strawberry seeds, and chili pepper seeds. Plant them in the garden and teach your teens how to grow and take care of them. As the plants grow and have fruits, pick some and involve them in preparing a meal with those veggies and fruits. This will greatly enhance their relationship with food as they will learn how to cook meals fresh from the ground. Gardening fruits and vegetables will also help your teens appreciate healthy foods better, especially when grown by them.

3. Use Positive Reinforcement, sparingly

Set achievable mini gardening goals for your teens. If they are responsible and sincere and show positive results, then they get certain privileges, public appreciation, or a special meal. This will help inspire your teens to do better and start gardening diligently.

4. Create A Wildlife Garden Together

For teenagers who adore creatures, a wildlife garden is ideal for them. Set up bird feeders, nesting areas, rain shelter, and insect hotels for all creatures big and small that are welcome in your garden. Your teens can even set up a camera at night to observe the nightlife of their garden’s creatures. Or engage in birdwatching during migratory seasons. This will keep them engrossed in gardening in the long run.

5. Create A Lush Safe Haven For Them

Try making gardening feel like a save space for them. Teens may sometimes seek change of scenery or privacy and may not get that inside the house. But a nice shelter in the garden, made to withstand rain, heat, or cold will be wonderful for your teenagers to bide their leisure or release stress. Try including some swings and lush, tropical plants with large leaves and vibrant, heavily scented flowers, to make it feel like a magical slice of heaven in the city. 

6. Use Waste Products For A Mini Herb Garden

A wonderful way of appealing to your teenager’s conscientious and environmental side is by using waste products for gardening. It is also a wise endeavor for families residing in cramped, urban flats, with little space for gardening. Use empty bulbs, paint cans, egg trays, and more as pots for plants. Your teenager can also engage in some mindful painting and relax, while designing the waste products to look more aesthetic. Plant herbs and small vegetables in them, to make an eco-friendly herb garden that is space friendly as well. Your teens can see them blooming in no time and feel really proud of their tangible, gardening achievements. 

Conclusion

Gardening is not a difficult hobby to maintain, it can be as budget-friendly or lavish as you want it to be. So, try to get your teenagers out into the garden to naturally lower their stress and anxiety levels, while unwinding and engaging in constructive work. Gardening will also inculcate gratitude and appreciation of nature and family in teens, so give this guide a try now.