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22 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • March 2019 This is a monthly column featuring winners and nomi- nees of the 2018 FredParent Family Favorite contest. family favorites One of our all- me favorite spring ac vi es to do with kids is gardening! Don't let it in midate you. This is defi nitely not something you need to over-think or over-plan. It's all about ge ng a li le dirty, learning about the Earth, and spending me together. If you are new to gardening or if your thumb isn't so green, start small. We suggest buying a simple seed starter pack along with a few packets of seeds at a garden center like Meadow's Farms Nurseries & Landscap- ing, or a home improvement store like Home Depot or Earl's True Value Hardware. Be sure to read the back of the seed packet to see how o en to water your seeds and to get an idea of when they may sprout. Need to make gardening even more approachable? You could simply just buy a young plant and a cute pot and let your kids have fun transplan ng it. PRO TIPS: � BONE UP WITH BOOKS. Stock up on children's books about spring, plants, and gardens at the library beforehand! Our library has an excellent selec on of gardening books. Here are a few the Central Rappahannock Regional Library recommends: • Grow It Cook It. Simple gardening projects and delicious recipes • How Does My Garden Grow. Grow plants for food and fun-packed projects • Easy to Grow Vegetables. Greens, tomatoes, peppers and more • Grow Cook Eat. A Vegetable Lover's Guide to Vegetable Gardening • My Tiny Veg Plot. Grow your own in surprisingly small spaces � GET INTO NATURE. This ac vity works best outdoors where kids can get as messy as they need. • PLAN INDOOR POTTING ACCORDINGLY. If plan ng has to hap- pen inside, it's best to do this ac vity over an easily sweepable fl oor or even a tarp. Go in knowing that a mess will be made! • LET YOUR KIDS DECIDE. Allow your kids to choose their own seeds or plants. It gives them a sense of ownership and control. • MAKE IT A TEACHING MOMENT. Be sure to read the seed packet/ plant informa on to them so they can learn what to expect from their plant (e.g. growing me, hardiness, taste or color, etc.). • GIVE THEM SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THE PLANT'S CARE. How much responsibility is totally up to you! Growing Gardners WRITTEN BY BRENDA SAPANGHILA MarvelUniverseLive.com Opening Night Tickets Start at $15! Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Subject to availability. Tickets at market pricing. Purchase tickets at venue box office, ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000. © 2018 MARVEL MAR 22 – 31 EAGLEBANK ARENA