Earth Date: Why Mother Nature is a MILF
If there’s one thing Mother Earth does better than any of her sister planets, it’s giving birth.
She gestates. She grows things. She’s a Fertile Myrtle. She’s a baby mama. She’s preggers. Get my drift? She’s like Jon and Kate plus 8 wowzillion, ya dig?
The horny old broad has some randy heirs, too. Some of them breed every few days, while others modestly wait a year between litters. Yet, some of her more introverted progeny, like bamboo forests, get the urge once every 48 years.
Here’s how to invite some of Mother Earth’s offspring to a play date with yours.
Babies live by the WIIFM — “What’s In It For Me?” — principle. A windowsill herb garden will answer that question to your infant’s satisfaction. He can enthusiastically participate in the tending of this mini-garden.
Your older baby (6 -12 months) or toddler (12 -24 months) can:
- Use a small cup to water the plants that you tell him need care. At first he will need you to guide his hand; later he will imitate what he sees, then eventually, he will comply with your instructions on when and where to dump the water.
- Help you harvest the basil for tonight’s spaghetti. Or the cilantro for tomorrow’s scrambled eggs. Regardless of how much of the table food baby eats, he can be involved.
- Nibble along with you as you harvest the herbs.
- Smell the bounty of scents that an herb garden provides. Bruise the leaves and stems between your thumb and forefinger to release essential oils and fragrance. Hold the herb to your own nose to let baby know that an interesting smell awaits his attention. Then offer the sample to him, about 3 inches from his face — see if he leans toward the scent, or otherwise shows an interest, before moving it closer to his nostrils.
Although preschoolers can deal with more information than infants or toddlers, the trick is still to stimulate attention without taxing attention spans. Quick, daily parts of the gardening process will make for a developmentally appropriate introduction to gardening, and its ultimate purpose, self-care. Planting, then watching the garden for signs of growth, then ultimately harvesting, will give you plenty of teachable moments to share with your child.
If you are growing a lettuce, herb, or vegetable patch outside, your 3, 4, or 5 year-old can:
- Harvest according to your demonstrations and instructions.
- Use a sorting activity to build math skills. Tell him that today you will pick green things and red things, for example. Give him a green crayon and a sheet of paper so that he can draw a depiction of a the green veggie you’ll be harvesting. Provide a separate sheet and a red crayon for tomatoes, etc. Every time either of you collects an item, take the time to place it on the pile (or basket or bowl) that belongs to the corresponding illustration.
- Wash the day’s bounty to your satisfaction.
- Arrange and proudly serve up salads to hungry, appreciative family members.
No garden of your own? No worries, Mommy. A picnic will do. With Eric Carle’s classic tale, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, as your guide, your child can hear a good story, become more familiar with counting, and taste-test the earth-grown foods mentioned in the book.
The most important lesson to be learned: Food doesn’t really come from a box or a window on the side of a building — food comes from a hands-on process.
Yesterday’s post: Water Wednesday — no nagging, no conservation. Just fun.
Check back tomorrow for more of Earth Day all week at MommyGarten.com!
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Carly Jennings | Parenting Skills | 
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