Having an excitable group of kids in the house can be nerve-wracking when it comes to house plants. Make sure that plants are not a child hazard by keeping the garden and the house green with kid friendly nature. These plants make your house look beautiful without resulting in any issues that could be caused by a little roughhousing or curiosity. Also, if pets are a worry, remember, what is safe for kids will also be safe for pets.
Safe Play
Usually, kids like to explore the world they live in – looking at plants and not being able to touch them can be both a burden and a temptation. You want your kids to grow up appreciating nature, not seeing it as off-limits. Help educate them in plant care and love with a bromeliad. Bromeliad has great common names like earth star and flaming sword, and not only do they have kid friendly names but their appearance is kid friendly too. These tropical natives come in a variety of colors and sizes, and are resilient enough to touch. Be sure to keep the room warm and humid where this plant will be housed.
The zebra plant is another good choice for your house. This is also a tropical option, and works well with kids because of its bright colors and defined patterns. Kids will be proud to show this plant off to their friends after school. Because the plant is from the tropics, it will prefer warm and humid conditions, so placing it in the warmest room in the house is a good idea.
A Christmas cactus is the perfect plant for a child’s bedside. This plant lacks the prickly thorns stereotypical of cacti, but also has bright red flowers. Christmas cacti like dry conditions and direct sunlight. Water them appropriately and they will last at least a few years. Not only are they great to look at, but their resiliency makes this a great plant to have your child care for, as a first chore project.
For The Curious Tasters
The Boston fern may look more delicate to the touch, but is not so. Its gentle leaves are great for kids to stroke, and the leaves are soft enough that no young hands will be hurt. Place this plant on a pedestal so the leaves can droop down over the sides, much like a spider plant. A great fact about the Boston fern is that it is non-toxic, so if you are worried those little fingers will try to grab a few leaves for a snack, you won’t need to call any doctor. The same goes for pets.
Other non-toxic plants include the African daisy, African violet, alyssum and arrow root.
Sunflowers can be grown either inside or outside. These bright, tall flowers have a short growing period, so it makes it easy for kids wanting to learn about how plants grow to see the different phases. If you are lucky and the birds have not taken off all the seeds of your outdoor sunflowers, gather them and roast them for a snack, or save the seeds for another planting the next year. What a great way to let your kids feel proud about their own hard work.
Another great way to teach your children about the plant life cycle is to grow a lollipop flower. Have your child plant a seed in a small pot, use a simple plant like chia. Once the sprout is tall enough for the child to see growth, swap out the pot for an identical one with a lollipop inside.
Source: Teleflora – 5 Plants Safe for the Most Rambunctious of Kids
