Montessori Practical Life in the Garden in Spring

– it is a typical characteristic of the season and this way child will learn more about seasons in general

– it is great for developing the child’s independence

– it helps a child to be responsible

– it teaches him to care about plants

– it teaches nature appreciation

– it influences his future eating culture

There are 3 basic ideas to help your gardening to be more Montessori:

Think about what your child may need to be able to work in the garden by himself.

– give him his own area where he will be growing his own plants. You can make a funny sign together that will tell that it is his small garden.

– prepare for him his own tools. They should be appropriate and child-sized so he can use them comfortably.

– prepare a small place where he will store his own tools

– place a little hook near where hi will hang his garden apron and put his garden gloves

– learn the names of the tools using the objects themselves or cards with the help of 3-period lesson

– add activities about how plants grow to your shelves

– learn about different seeds

– support the gardening idea with the books related to it and wall art

– start a garden journal where he will observe how his plants grow

Show the presentations about how to do gardening things as we do with the materials in a Montessori classroom. You can show them one at a time, slowly step by step. You can divide the big process into several small.

Show presentations how to

– put on/off his garden apron

– use every tool he has

– dig garden beds

– how to use a watering can

– how to clean hands after work in the garden and much more

Think about what lessons he may need to be able to work there without your assistance and present them to him.

Give him an ability to explore all these things at his own pace. Even if you think that he is doing nothing and just standing there – he does. He observes you and learns from you how to do it. Be his example. Don’t expect that the child will do the things as you do it. Our aim is to make the whole process interesting for him. We don’t need him to grow a tomato exactly but we want him to enjoy gardening and to love gardening in future. 

I have found several things that will be suitable for your child’s work in the garden:

Garden Personalized Tools

Personalized Children’s Gardening Tool Kit

Personalized children’s garden tool set

Does your child already have a special garden appropriate apron? You can use one of these cute ones or maybe you can find a rubber one that will be easier to clean 😉

Flower Garden Apron

Poppy apron

Vintage Educational Print