Keeping children amused and involved

[Katiepops1977]

Hi everyone  ,
I am taking the advice of Digeroo and have started a new thread to discuss how other people have managed to keep their children amused and involved on their allotment.
At the moment we have only just acquired the allotment so it is a novelty and there is plenty for them to do. Tasks so far have included stone gathering, rubbish moving, compost bin filling etc. We also have the use of a travel cot up there to keep the youngest contained until we can get the ground more even for her to toddle on. We have plans for a growing area just for them where they can ceate whatever they want. Ideas have also included taking a paddling pool up in the summer.
Any other ideas will be gratefully received as my chidlren are bound to become bored slightly quicker than us.
The kids in question are 2yrs, 5yrs, 10yrs and 11yrs. 

[Katiepops1977]

[goodlife]

You could get them involved with 'decorating' the plot with the 'gatherings...like using the stones for edging the paths..or even making stepping stones by getting them to insert the bebbles and small stones into small 'puddles' of concrete mix. These can be later date then lifted and layed where they are wanted.
How about building 'homes' for bugs and hedgehogs/frogs etc. It doesn't have to be that serious attempt..but keep them occupied and using up twigs and leaves.
Make them a small sandpit..doesn't have to be nothing complicated and once they get bored playing in it/grow out of it/gets mudded up..you can mix the sand into surrounding soil and its gone or start new 'fresh' one in different place.
Or how about clay pit....let them get REALLY dirty! 

[tomatoada]

An old car tyre hanging from a stout branch if you have a suitable tree.

[Nora42]

hi my 10 year old and 7 year old are allowed to wander around - I have told them (taught them ) to stay on the paths not to trample on anyones crops and treat other peoples allotments with respect.Sometimes they take a note book and try to identify what people are growing. 12 people growing beetroot etc.
Fortunately 99% of the allotment holders are extremely tolerant of them and their interest in what is going on a retired Doctor told me he was amazed at their knowledge of veg growing in the ground. most of the time they are not with me on my visits which I try to keep to their school hours.
Next year I think I am going to give the a square meter each and get them to grow stuff.
their being so social lets me meet other people.
Nora

[Digeroo]

I also quite enjoy it when some of the children come around and talk to me.   

However quite a lot of the families have in the end given up, so I think it is a problem that needs a solution.  Keeping four of them interested as well as working on the plot I think is quite a task.   

I like the idea of a square meter each.  My kids had plots in the garden, though I think they were twice that size.  The older ones might find one square meter rather limiting. There is a family on our site who have done something similar, except one child chose strawberries so there is not much to do except keep them weeded. Garden Organic do a nice printable leaflet on square foot gardening for schools. 

Another family had a sandpit.   

I did become worried when one set of children rode their bikes around the paths since there are canes etc around the place. 


 

[Katiepops1977]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far. I particularly like the bug homes.
I have decided to put your suggestions to the kids themselves and see which ones they like.
I'll let you know the results.

Keep them coming in though.

[ACE]

Tie them to poles and tell them they are scarecrows. You could leave them there all day even if you were not there. Just make sure you tie them up nice and tight  Don't whatever you do don't let them pester old men who usually go there just to get free from  visiting rugrats at home.

[betula]

Mixed feelings about kids on Allotments.I have been left to amuse others offspring while needing time myself to get on with things.

Also one family always let their kids walk on ahead and cause damage to my plot by walking in the wrong place.

What can you do but smile...................grrrrrrrrr

[grawrc]

We've had a number of incidents involving kids on bikes, kids winding up dogs and then blaming the dogs, kids playing football and damaging plants on people's plots, kids wandering on to people's plots and helping themselves, so I'm afraid we insist they stay on their parents' plots now. If you want them to do surveys etc you'd need to go with them - or arrange a visit with the plot holders. No bikes, no football. Sorry to be so negative!

Long term the best way to get them interested is to teach them to grow things and then let them do it. Also limit the length of time they spend there. I'd happily spend 3-4 hours but my grandchildren are happiest when we're there for half an hour (an hour absolute max) and they have plenty of fun things to do like picking peas and raspberries, planting potatoes and broad beans ... and so on.

[gwynnethmary]

My husband had to help his Dad on his allotment when he was young, and developed a distinct lack of interest, which has followed him to this day.  He enjoys doing our own garden at home, and looks after the house plants beautifully, but he was very much put of lottying at an early age!

[artichoke]

I help my daughter with her London plot and we have one of those clamshell sand pits that you can close when you leave, keeping it dry and protected, for the 2 yr old. The 7 and 5 yr olds enjoy making tent-like bamboo structures to "live" in, with a mini table and a picnic. They can be asked to scatter fertiliser (rather unevenly), dig up onions, pick blackberries/strawberries/beans. I'm not saying it's easy, but we do get quite a lot done. The 7 yr old has made great inroads among the brambles with a pair of secateurs - I was impressed. It's best when there are other children there that they can run about and play with. It's a neglected site and there is very little damage they could do except to our own plot.

Older grandchildren have competitive bonfires on my own country site which is very open - plenty of space to run about in without going near other people's plots - they cook sausages etc. They are not really interested in the growing side of things.....