March does bring in that good old spring fever of things coming up new but also it is the time to plant those seeds for spring flowers and grass. 

Yes, April showers do 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 beautiful world when you include them in a time-well-spent 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 — that it takes soil, sun, water and seeds for plants to grow. You can draw this on a piece of paper or poster so young children can visualize what is going to happen after they plant their seeds.

In showing how seeds germinate and grow, pick up some large butterbean seeds. Use a small zipped 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.

Going to the store to buy the seeds can be a learning experience as well as you and your child look and choose seeds appropriate for our region of the country. Pick up an inexpensive plastic shovel, bucket and water pail. If an indoor garden is chosen by you and your child, also pick up a bag of soil.

You and your child choose the kind of garden you want to plant. It may be out in the yard, in small pots, or an indoor garden. Read carefully the directions on the seed packets to know how deep each seed must be planted.

In planting seeds take time with your child in talking about the seeds of kindness; the seed of helping others; and the seed of love they can plant in their hearts.

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

Her column appears regularly in The Bulletin.