| Winter gardening for autistic children during the | | | | The third step, is to place the pots that are |
| cold months is exciting, fun, and enjoyable. How | | | | planted with seeds in a sunny window or on a try |
| do you get started with this gardening project | | | | by a sunny window and tell the person, that |
| when there is snow on the ground? | | | | during the winter months a garden inside, needs |
| First, one must realize there are children with | | | | plenty of sun. Now, tell your child who has autism, |
| autism who enjoy seeing green things grow. To | | | | to water the seeds to make them grow. Do not |
| start winter gardening, introduce the individual to | | | | over water them. You may want to get them an |
| some black potting soil, that you can purchase at | | | | empty drinking plastic water bottle, fill it up half |
| a small flower shop, hobby store and sometimes | | | | way and let them hold the bottle, so they get the |
| your all-in-one, stop and shop stores. You can buy | | | | feel of it and allow them to pour the water on |
| some seeds, or you can save seeds by drying | | | | the dirt. After about a week or two, the seeds |
| them out, on newspaper or paper towel before | | | | will start to erupt from soil. |
| winter arrives to plan ahead. | | | | Winter gardening for autistic children will bring |
| The second step is, to acquire some small clay | | | | them delight and encourage them to have |
| pots, empty styrofoam coffee cups, or small | | | | respect for living vegetation, plants, flowers, and |
| peat pot containers, all of these will work, but you | | | | teach them there is life in living things. |
| only need one choice for starting the seeds to | | | | Encourage your child to take responsibility to care |
| grow. Make sure there are holes in the bottom of | | | | for the plant, seeds, or small tree, on a routine |
| the containers for drainage. | | | | daily basis. This gives them something to look |
| Have your child with autism help you load the | | | | forward to, due to the fact, the seeds are |
| containers you chose, with dirt, and pack it slightly | | | | growing and changing in height and color and it |
| tight. Instruct and show the child what the seeds | | | | gives them enthusiasm for new challenges and |
| will do. Let he or she, hold the seeds in their hand | | | | projects. |
| to get the feel of them. Explain to them what the | | | | Another way you can create an interest with |
| seed will do when they are in the dirt. Give them | | | | winter gardening for autistic children is to purchase |
| a picture of how the plant, flower or small tree, | | | | some colored small stones or shells, and place |
| will look after they grow during the winter | | | | them on the tray, where the pots of seeds will |
| gardening. You could even make it more | | | | be to make it more attractive. |
| interesting, by making a growing chart, with inches | | | | Winter gardening with seeds and plants requires |
| marked on it and place it inside the pot, glued to | | | | patience. To teach autistic children to learn and |
| some flat or round sticks, so the child can view | | | | enjoy this project, also requires patience. The end |
| the progress of the seeds. | | | | result gives the child a happy smile and joy. |