How do you keep kids interested in the SAME project for multiple days?

Dec 71 min read

I started a backyard garden project with my 9yo last month and it's already losing steam. She was super into it for like 2 weeks - we planted tomatoes, peppers, herbs, the whole thing. But now she just sees it as a chore. I'm having her water them but she's clearly not excited anymore. How do other people keep projects going? Should I just let it die or is there a way to reignite the interest? She's at that age where everything needs to be "cool" apparently.

12 comments310 views

Comments(12)

SSam F.New DadDec 7

this is the hard part about gardening with kids - there's a LOT of boring maintenance between the exciting planted part and the fun harvest part. maybe add a second component like building a bug hotel or painting garden markers to keep engagement higher?

DDanny G.RegularDec 9

she lost steam at 2 weeks because nothing visible has happened yet with tomato plants. they don't grow fast enough to hold a 9yo's attention. get her some fast-growing stuff like radishes or herbs that show progress in days, intersperse with the tomatoes

RRick J.New DadDec 8

the plants are still growing which is good but she can't SEE it. take weekly photos so she can actually track progress. visual evidence of growth hits different than just looking at slightly taller plants. show her the photo from week 1 vs now

MMatt D.RegularDec 8

lol same problem with my 10yo. we did this exact same garden setup and by week 3 she was like 'so when do we eat it' and got mad that it takes months. might need to do something with faster wins mixed in - like grow microgreens in a cup that you can eat in 2 weeks

AAllen K.RegularDec 9

are you doing it WITH her or expecting her to do it solo? because 'you planted and now she does maintenance' is different from 'you discover together weekly what changed.' one feels like a chore, the other is detective work

AAaron W.RegularDec 9

honestly at 9yo the attention span problem isn't really about gardens, it's about HOW you're engaging. if you're just like 'go check your plants' she'll forget. but if you make it a data project (measuring growth, temperature, soil moisture logs) it becomes a real thing not a chore

NNate C.New DadDec 9

invite a friend over to help with the garden sometimes. sounds dumb but 9yos will work on boring stuff way longer if there's social component. watering alone = tedious. watering with a friend = adventure

AAl G.RegularDec 9

the garden project needs a milestone moment. like schedule a 'harvest celebration' even if it's small tomatoes, involve picking + cooking something. kids need a narrative end point. 'checking plants' is boring but 'making salsa from OUR tomatoes' is a story

LLou P.RegularDec 9

the 2 week enthusiasm cliff is REAL. garden projects hit different because there's a lot of waiting between plantings. maybe shift expectations - instead of expecting daily interest, treat it like a monthly check-in thing where you both go see what's happening

PPaul T.RegularDec 10

9yo attention span for the same project is like... 2-3 weeks if you're lucky. the fact you got 2 weeks is actually solid. need to pivot to making it seasonal - tomatoes take months to actually produce so shift expectations to 'checking on growth' instead of 'active project'

PPaul M.RegularDec 10

our 8yo's garden lasted 6 weeks before she ghosted it. then a tomato actually grew and suddenly she cared again. sometimes you just gotta let projects sit and see if natural progress reignites the interest

AAaron W.RegularDec 10

stop thinking 'same project' and start thinking 'evolving project'. month 1 was planting. month 2 could be bug identification, month 3 harvest prep, month 4 cooking. she doesn't want to water tomatoes for 12 weeks, she wants different challenges