Melanthia Peterman shows Caitlyn Zier, 2, a lemon balm plant during a Little Sprouts Gardening class. Aida Skinner, 23 months, gets to work with her trowel.
Caitlyn Zier, Aida Skinner, Max Peterman and Cecelia Cox explore Melanthia Peterman's flower beds during a Little Sprouts Gardening class.
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HOW TO MAKE PINECONE BIRD FEEDERS
1. Collect pinecones lying around the yard or at a nearby park. 2. With a spatula, coat the pinecones with creamy peanut butter. 3. Pour birdseed into a bowl and roll the pinecones in the seeds until they are completely covered. 4. Tie a piece of twine on each of the pinecones. 5. Hang them up where you can observe the birds at their feast!
RECOMMENDED READING
For Kids
Diary of a Spider, by Doreen Cronin Diary of Worm, by Doreen Cronin Growing Vegetable Soup, by Lois Ehlert How a Seed Grow,s by Helene J. Jordan Jack's Garden, by Henry Cole Leaf Man, by Lois Ehlert Planting a Rainbow, by Lois Ehlert Sunflower House, by Eve Bunting The Carrot Seed, by Ruth Krauss Waiting for Wing,s by Lois Ehlert Wiggling Worms at Work, by Wendy Pfeffer
For Adults
First Garden Activity Book, by Angela Wilkes Green Thumbs: A Kid's Activity Guide to Indoor and Outdoor Gardening, by Laurie Carlson Ready, Set, Grow!: A Kid's Guide to Gardening, by Rebecca Spohn Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children, by Sharon Lovejoy Wildlife Gardening, by Martyn Cox
Flapping like a bird, scooping dirt, observing a heron and creating a bird feeder – these things are all in a morning's work at Melanthia Peterman's house.
On a recent Saturday, my 2-year-old daughter and I took a Little Sprouts Gardening class at Peterman's lovely Magnolia home. Her idea for cozy gardening classes geared toward the 16-month to 3-year-old crowd is just beginning to bloom.
"Kids are naturally inquisitive, and this is a great age to get them outside to experience nature and the garden," said Peterman, a gardening aficionada who has been working in the yard with her 23-month-old son, Max, since he was able.
For the eight little ones in attendance at our session, Peterman's personal touch encouraged fun, distraction-free exploration (she leads the classes in her fenced-off backyard). We began by moving about like animals to get the kids' attention and loosen them up. After singing introductions, Peterman read the charming story Flip, Flap, Fly!, by Phyllis Root, which tied into our big project of the day: bird feeders.
The children then chose a mini rake or trowel and explored their surroundings. That is to say, they dug around in Peterman's flower beds, which gives you an idea of her intrepid dedication to the kids' discovery. They particularly enjoyed smelling a lemon balm plant and performing the important task of rearranging soil.
From there, we fashioned our peanut-butter-and-seed pinecone bird feeders, although some kids preferred eating the tasty spread instead of putting it on the cone. We ended the class with our own seedy snack, sesame-seed pretzel sticks, and homegrown strawberries. All of the kids delighted in being able to bring home a flavorsome present for their backyard birds.
Anna Robbins, one of the moms in the group, appreciated that the atmosphere of the Little Sprouts class was relaxed and that the activities were approachable for toddlers. "It wasn't a complicated agenda, just time to learn, play and explore."
Peterman – a freelance writer who has contributed several stories about gardening and other topics to Seattle’s Child – is offering three five-week sessions during the summer, with classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. Kids might create their own tiny fairy forests, observe roots as they grow or tend to their own gardening plot.
For parents who would like to encourage their children to be more active in the garden at home, Peterman recommends having plenty of books about gardening and bugs on hand (see her suggested book list below). In addition, kids are more likely to get engaged if they have their own set of tools and a spot in the garden to call their own.
"Vegetables are great because kids can eat what they are growing," said Peterman. "Carrots and radishes are fun to rip out of ground; peas are fast growers and you can make a teepee out of the vines; potatoes can be planted in just about any soil; and lemon cucumbers and tomatoes are nice and easy. Sunflowers are gigantic fun, too."
Peterman still feels like a child who gets excited to see something work in the garden. She loves planting seeds and tending the plots with her trusty sidekick, Max. "Working outside with Max is a joy. It's fun to see him experience the garden on a completely different level."
Taryn Zier is a freelance writer and mother of two based in Lake Forest Park who has a newfound motivation to involve her children in more gardening projects.
IF YOU GO
Where: Melanthia Peterman's house in Magnolia.
Age Range: 16 months to 3 years; children must be accompanied by an adult.
Summer Class Schedule: Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays, 10 to 11:15 a.m. Sessions run June 16 through July 18, July 21 through August 22, or August 25 through September 26.
Fee: $135 for one five-week session, which includes a gardening kit (kid-sized pail, shovel, rake and seed packet) to take home.
