
I started with sprout experiments and a vivid apple taste test comparing varieties in school (Golden Delicious was my favorite). I grew up to support communications for the nonprofit FoodCorps and help produce foodie events for the National Pasta Association, Monterey Public Library, and others. As a result, I know that gardening and cooking are creative outlets worth exploring with your kids.
GARDENING WITH KIDS
University of California Master Gardener and mother of two, Anne Jensen, shares insights in her “kid-friendly gardens” class. Her top local resilient garden recommendations are lavender, yarrow (blooms spring and summer, comes in many different colors, and attracts lots of butterflies), dymondia (needs water only about twice a year when it looks white), alyssum, and salvia (use Flowers by the Sea’s Salvia Finder to pick your best option from hundreds of types that bloom a lot and work for any space). Drought-resistant, hardy plants are ideal in our region, as well as edible plants and flowers that kids can pick freely.
In the class, Jensen also recommends including a section of edible plants and flowers as a “tea garden”: mint, oregano, rosemary, hibiscus, zinnia, and rose are just some edible options. Pole beans are great for summer and fall, while sugar snap peas are great for winter and spring (but beware of sweet peas, which look and smell similar but are toxic). Mammoth dill, which grows to be six feet tall, attracts black swallowtail caterpillars. Jensen emphasizes reminding your kids to always ask before they eat a plant, especially when they’re not home.
Seaside mother of two, Tracy Gilbert, and her six-year-old Janeigh have been gardening together regularly “ever since she could walk.” “She’s pretty much done it all,” says Gilbert. Their favorite things to grow here are squash and zucchini, and going to Home Depot is a frequent mother–daughter adventure. Janeigh’s current prize possession is a four-foot-tall tomato plant that she grew from seeds started in an egg carton: she is very proud that it now has three tomatoes.
Janeigh currently helps Tracy in the garden by weeding, picking produce, and planting new plants. From her experience, Gilbert recommends letting little children get dirty, using a safety shovel to dig holes, and planting seeds with their fingers. For older kids, she recommends teaching them how to prune and propagate plants and sharing about photosynthesis.
Some benefits of getting into the garden are gaining an understanding of where food comes from, practicing responsibility, encouraging interest in how things grow, stress-reduction, and eating more produce. Those who garden growing up learn to care about the environment. The mental health and general health benefits of spending time outdoors as well as being creative are well-documented. Turning the treasures of a garden into a beautiful bouquet or a meal may be a lovely bonus.
COOKING WITH KIDS
For toddlers just starting in the kitchen, the Parents Place one-year-old class recommends first offering a butter spreader and showing little ones how to cut safely while keeping their other hand on top of the knife. “We’re always using a toddler tower in the kitchen,” says Monterey mom of three Amy Patelis. Playing with food also counts as a positive experience for little ones, while cooking and tasting are great ways to enjoy different flavors, colors, and textures.
Patelis commonly uses two methods to get her children in on the action: “If they ask for a snack when I’m making dinner, I will often pull them in, hand them a plastic kid’s knife, and let them chop an extra vegetable. It contributes to our dinner and allows them to try something they typically wouldn’t eat.” Generally, they choose simple recipes for family cooking. “Buying premade pizza dough is my go-to to get the girls in the kitchen. I allow them to stretch it and spread sauce and cheese. My five-year-old helps with measuring and mixing, my two-and-a-half-year-old is the dumper and spoon-licker, and my 11-month-old is our taste tester,” notes Patelis.
Cooking opportunities with older children can include browsing a farmer’s market together for ingredients—perhaps allowing them a budget to play with, picking out something your family has never tried at the grocery store to prepare, or trying to recreate a handed-down family recipe or a favorite restaurant meal. Hit the library to flip through some cookbooks or check out one of the many inspiring food blogs to explore something new. Ask your kids what they are interested in doing in the garden or kitchen and then enjoy the quality time and creative results.
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