Yes, April showers bring May flowers but the seeds have to be planted first.

What better time to ask your little-one to be your gardening buddy. Young children can learn so very much about our world when you include them in a quality lesson. In a few weeks they will be able to see the results of their digging and planting efforts. So let’s get ready to not only nurture our yards and gardens, but to nurture our young children with time well spent.

Simply explain “photosynthesis.” It takes soil, sun, water and seeds for plants to grow before planting. You can draw this on a poster so young children can visualize what is going to happen after they plant their seeds. Going to the store to pick up seeds that can grow in this part of the country, as well as measuring and planting the seeds, are wonderful learning experiences. I love to plant rye grass because it comes up so quickly and is such a beautiful green.

In showing how seeds germinate and grow, pick up some large butterbean seeds. Use a small, zipped plastic bag, wet paper towel and tape. Tape the seeds inside the bag and put the wet paper towel to the back of the taped seeds. Tape the bag up on a window where the sun shines in.

Over a two-week period observe how the sprouts begin to grow. 

Have your child record his or her observations by drawing what they see. By this experiment children are able to see a root grow, which pushes the leaf up to the top. Your young scientist will be fascinated by this experiment.

Spring also brings out a lot of nature’s creatures. Fishing for doodlebugs from holes in the soil with pine straw is a favorite activity. At the end of the pine straw you will be pleasantly surprised to see a little doodlebug curled up at the end.

Observing beautiful butterflies emerging from chrysalis, moths from cocoons fascinate the eye of the young scientist. Observing at a safe distance the lifestyle of ants is an afternoon show.

Don’t forget after one of our last April showers to listen and find a little frog called a peeper!

Beth Pinyerd lives in Daphne and serves as director of younger children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort.

Her column appears every other week in the Daphne Bulletin and Spanish Fort Sun.