​Gardens and Kids

​Here we are – almost at the longest day of the year. Two months ago we were looking out the window at a foot of spring snow. Now we are sitting outdoors enjoying the sun, the green grass and the vibrant colors of the flowers. 

Some of you have been planting your gardens and are already reaping a harvest from early producers. I see the care and attention given by passionate gardeners. Their gardens are weeded, watered, and watched carefully. They have the right amount of sun. They are protected from cute little animals.

I am not one of those passionate gardeners. I love the idea of a beautiful well-kept garden (and the yummy harvest) but I lack the attention span and, quite honestly, don’t really like to sweat that much. I am also not a fan of the black flies, which happen to coincide with the planting season. 

Raising children has many similarities to tending gardens. Children require that someone is paying attention to them. Food, sleep, and protection from danger are key. They are messy and sometimes hard to care for. But the truth remains that they need a healthy environment full of love to thrive. 

Let’s consider the mighty zucchini.  Given the right conditions, zucchini can grow seemingly out of control. You experienced gardeners know what I am talking about. Three healthy zucchini plants can bury you in zucchinis. They hide under the leaves and when discovered they are huge! And so many of them. How is a gardener to keep up with them? And just how many batches of zucchini relish and stuffed zucchini can you make (or eat?)!
Children too are busy growing. Given the right conditions, they are seemingly out of control. They are constantly in motion, until they collapse in a heap of exhaustion. This is their job. They are hard at work playing, running, jumping, yelling, exploring. 
I am thinking about the little children in my life. This summer I want to help give them the healthy environment they need to grow. I want to join them in exploring the world around us. To see things through their eyes. I want to encourage their activity and eagerness. I might even jump, and twirl, and run through the sprinkler with them. 

The River Center offers a number of ways to encourage parents and caregivers with children of all ages. There is a group that is meeting outdoors with babies, another group with toddlers, and the Families, Forests and Farms group meets weekly for fun family friendly field trips. If you are interested, please check out rivercenter.us or contact us at [email protected] or 924-6800. 

Wishing you a fun summer filled with laughter and love.