Last year, when my grandmother showed my adorable five year-old cousin, Andrew, how to plant seeds in egg shells filled with dirt, he lovingly tended to them for days, waiting for the first signs of life to appear… thrilled when the geraniums finally sprouted.

This year, Andrew's got quite the green thumb and is a huge help in the vegetable garden. He loves planting, watering, weeding, and is incredibly excited about the plump tomatoes growing heavy on their vines.

Gardening is a great way to engage your children’s imaginations and get them active outdoors this summer. They’ll be especially enthusiastic if you give them their own gardening kits to use alongside you in the backyard. Choose one with kid-sized tools, like the Kids Gardening Kit from Sassafras. The kit has everything they need, including a metal mini-trowel, hoe, and rake, all with hardwood handles, and a colorful gardening bag they’ll love to call their own.

I suspect Andrew – and hopefully your children – will look back fondly on summers in the garden, and of course, the delicious meals made from the bounty of vegetables they helped grow.

Happy gardening!

Rachel