Planting a Sensory Garden

Written by: Katie Love

Want to enjoy the outdoors with your babies and tots in a fun, safe and educational way? Then why not plant a sensory garden that encourages them to touch, taste, smell, and enjoy the outdoors. This type of garden is designed to be completely kid friendly, with plants that can take being walked on, are safe to eat, have a variety of colors, textures, and smells, and that are useful outside of the garden too.

Celebrating Earth Day

Earth Day is the largest environmentally celebrated event. It is recognized internationally throughout the months of March and April and with the easy access to the Internet and books galore, there are so many activities available for helping protect the earth and reduce our carbon footprint. Of course, there’s always the importance of teaching about recycling and how to reuse items around the house, and now is the season for many of us to begin planning and planting our gardens. For extra ideas on celebrating earth day, try out a few of these family-friendly, but fun (and even sometimes educational!) activities you and the kids will love!

Counting & Planting Project :: by Angel Rodrigues

Things You Need

*Terra Cotta Pots

*Wooden sticks for labeling

*Patio Paint bottles in various colors

*Paintbrushes for each child

*Pot decorations

*Seeds & potting soil

*Paper, pencil & permanent marker

What To Do

1. Paint pots and decorations.

2. While pots dry, pour seeds onto paper, and label as you go along.

3. Have the counters count the seeds and write on the sheet the amount for each pack.

4. Make math problems out of the numbers to show how to divide the seeds for each pot.

5. Once pots are dry and decorated, fill with potting soil and seeds.

6. Label each stick with the name of the seed and place n the pot.

The great thing about this project is the many combinations of how to use the scents, and the recipes are endless!

For MORE fun projects to do with the kids turn to page 15, 18-19 of the Spring 2013 issue of Multiplicity Magazine

About the Author: Angel has a feminist brain, a thirst for knowledge, and writing is her dirty little secret. She is mom to a 7 year old, 4 year old busy twin boys, and a 2 year old little girl. She has been married for over 14 years and is kept alive by coffee. You can follow her blog or find her on Facebook and Twitter.