Green Thumb
A parent asked about some ideas for helping her 3rd grade daughter experience the joy of taking care of something. “She didn’t respond well to the unpredictable activity of puppies and kittens, and she cried uncontrollably when a fish died. What are some other options?”
SPECIFIC STRATEGY A rewarding and rather fool-proof option is to introduce your youngster to the world of gardening. You can designate a small flowerbed area in the yard or let her pick out a large pot or two for her very own personal container garden. It all begins with a trip to the nursery – a fun adventure for nearly every person.
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Before picking out plants, select the place where your daughter will have her garden, and have a nursery professional help you pick plants that match the environment. For example, some plants only grow in full sun while others thrive in shade and still others need only morning sun. In addition to the sunlight requirements, also ask about watering schedule, feeding schedule, blooming season, and planting tips. Some plants bloom all season long, while others have a very short blooming season. Some plants are annuals and others are perennials. Ideal plants for encouraging new gardeners are annuals that bloom for the season. In my part of the world, pansies bloom from October to April, then begonias, impatiens, and caladiums thrive under my shady pecan trees from April to October. Since my thumb is not very green, I always pick the fail-safe plants.
Once the nursery professional has shown your daughter all the flowers that can thrive in her garden, let her make her own choices from those options. Give her free reign to make her own choices, even if she selects strange combinations. If several plants are going to be mixed in one pot, make certain the watering, feeding, and sunlight requirements jive.
Help only as much as necessary as the new gardener prepares the soil, puts plants in the soil, adds mulch, and waters the plant. Help her set up a watering schedule with a place to check when the task is done. Help your daughter learn that over-watering is just as deadly to plants as is under-watering. Take pictures on the first day and as the plants grow and flourish. Enjoy!
NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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