- Allow children to explore nature.Little cute girl image by Nikolay Okhitin from Fotolia.com
Lessons and activities about flowers and plants is a popular theme around springtime when planting begins, seedlings start to sprout and flowers begin to bloom. Preschool-aged children learn best with hands-on activities. Flowers and plants present the perfect opportunity for activities that engage all of the child's senses from touching the different textures on plants to smelling the variety of scents from blooming flowers. - After being cooped up indoors all winter, spring brings a welcome change of weather allowing children to explore the outdoors. Go on a nature walk. Even if you live in the city, encourage kids to notice the nature surrounding them everywhere. Play "I Spy" and ask kids to say the different types of flowers and plants that they notice. If flowers are growing in the wild, allow the kids to pick the flowers so they can observe them up close. You can also do a scavenger hunt and give kids certain things to look for like "white flowers" or "large plants." This will keep kids engaged in nature as you go for the walk.
- According to Michael Olaf who writes about the Montessori method, "Lessons that make a deep impression come from first hand experiences of plants; nothing can substitute for seeing, and smelling flowers in the home, and watching the daily growth of a flower or vegetable in the garden." Planting a garden is a good, age appropriate activity for the preschool age child. Provide child-sized tools that are accessible for the child. According to Olaf, children enjoy real, meaningful work like planting gardens. Plant food items and flowers. Over time, the child can nurture the plants, learn how plants grow with water, soil and sunlight, and eventually cultivate the food or flowers from the garden that he grew himself. Once you and the child harvest the garden, allow the child to eat the food he grew himself.
- Flower arranging is an art and allows children to express themselves creatively. Provide a work station with a vase and a variety of flowers. Contact a local florist and ask for scrap flowers and greenery. Another option is artificial flowers, but these are not as rewarding as working with the real thing. You can also have children collect flowers outside from the lawn such as dandelions and other flowering weeds. Teach the children the proper names of the flowers. If you use small flowers, you can bring in empty baby food jars and allow the children to bring their creations home with them. Another option is to buy several larger vases and use larger flowers from the florist. Once the children assemble their flower arrangements, take them to a local children's hospital or nursing home to present to patients. Children will enjoy the challenge of making a beautiful arrangement and the satisfaction of completing the artistic task.
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