• Conversation--Something about the slow, steady work of tilling soil or weeding plants makes room for unstructured conversation. Without the distractions of household noise, what begins as a discussion of where to put the seeds flows into noticing the shapes in the clouds, the call of the birds, and then whatever else is on our child's mind. Parents have so much pulling at us--we can so easily be unavailable to our children for far more time than we realize. Between the computer, dinner, and bills we put our children off to take care of the details of life. Gardening buffers out aspects that interrupt and allows for conversation while working--a great recipe for connection.

• Exploration--I love rediscovering the world through my child's eyes. Gardening opens aspects of the world to discovery. The worms and bugs living in the soil that aid our labors, the wonder of a tiny seed becoming dinner in a few weeks--a myriad of discoveries await in our backyards to be shared. When children ask questions about how the process works, we either share what we know or grab a book and discover together--great memories.

• Work ethic--God designed children to learn from their parents while working beside them. Deuteronomy 6:6-7. Children inherently love being with their parents, learning from them, and participating with them. We've lost a lot of that dynamic in our current culture. More, children have lost the opportunities to engage in productive work. By institutionalizing an extended play culture for children, we've separated children from real work. Our children often can't see themselves as able to engage in meaningful activity which produces positive results for others. Gardening counteracts this. It tests physical as well as intellectual skills. It creates problem solving moments such as how to keep the deer or chickens away from the baby plants. Further, when the team brings that harvest of tomatoes or bouquet of flowers to the table, they share in the knowledge that together with you--they have done something meaningful.

Spring—sunshine, warmth, the chance to get outside and burn energy. Spring—the great rescuer of parents. After a winter shut inside to escape cold, damp, dreary days; Spring invites families to explore, engage, and escape the cabin fever for the great outdoors. But, once we get outside, what do we do?

Let’s face it—dreary days often lead to using the television as a babysitter so we can get things done. The upside—children are entertained while we get dinner, mop the floor, and make calls. The downside—an overdose of video (whether computer, video game, or movie) leads to passive kids. Kids who don’t know how to self-start with play. They need a little nudge. Spring can help.

• Plant a garden. Whether you go whole hog and plant rows of flowers or veggies or stay small with one large pot, gardens offer parents and children to engage together, learn together, and work together. Give your child a pot of their own or a row of their own. Go to the seed store to let them choose the plants they want to grow—a special flower for their own vase, a butterfly bush to watch their own butterflies, or a plant of their favorite veggie.

Digging, planting, and watering focus kid energy in a positive direction AND connect them to the project. They’ll be more likely to stick with the project. Further, they’ll likely help you with your portion of the garden!

As you prepare the soil, choose the seeds, and teach them how to plant—conversation grows. You’ll be amazed how much more you might learn about your child as you work alongside each other.

• Set up a sports area. Sure community sports teams offer a variety of experiences, great teaching, and the benefits of being part of a team. Yet, they so often pull families apart. Instead of Dad throwing the ball to his child in the backyard, we pay a coach to throw the ball. Deep connection and good memories get lost. Further, the overloaded schedule of practices and games for multiple children can mean family connection gets lost. One summer when we had three children in soccer, we routinely missed our oldest child’s games because the younger two were playing on different fields at different locations—not the scenario any of us wanted.

Get the benefits of both. Use the community sports opportunities for the benefits they offer, but have your own sports area in the backyard. Use garage sales to get equipment to span the ages. Find games family can do together—hopscotch, badminton, soccer, bocce ball all make great choices for young to old, skilled to unskilled. Setting up the area means parents and children alike can simply go outside and get started without a lot of preparation or guidance. Children learn the skills of working together in the family. Bonds grow as you play together. Everyone gets healthier.

• Explore community treasures. With gas prices rising and budgets shrinking, focus on the unique attractions of your community. Warming temperatures afford the opportunity to take the family to the local cave, park, or outdoor concert. Locate a guide for local festivals and special attractions. Let the children choose their event of the week or month. Together you build family memories, use stored energy from the winter, and you build stronger connections within your community.

The dreary days of winter are waning! Let Spring begin!