[Janeymiddlewife]

Mine are all different, however as we haven't had a proper year's "harvest" yet, I'm hoping their interest will pick up when they see things they like, strawbs, sweetcorn, raspberies & spuds.
DS1 (12) is really fairly keen, as long as it's an hour or so like Richy said, he loves digging, picking up worms, and also loves the fact there are a few spuds left from the last tenant to find where we're digging at the mo. He even made my plot sign for me
DS2, (12) hates dirt but doesn't mind lopping as long as he can bring his camera and go off snapping shots of flowers & wildlife when he's had enough.
Both boys can be bribed with hot chocolate, a bonfire &/or sweets on the way home (not on the way there like Ds1 tried this morning )
DD (15) "eek is that a worm?" won't come near the place, but hope she might when there's things to harvest
DS3  (  can't manage the heavy digging over, but has asked for his own plot, so think when i move the link a bord bed up there, I'll make it his and let him choose, so far he wants to grow little carrots and sweetcorn
Not sure I'd want all 4 of them with me at once, although there is a space behind my plot, bordering houses which would be big enough to kick a ball around in, it's screened by brambles from the other plots, so don't think anyone would mind if we camped out there - I have said we'd try it at easter or May half term, bring a tent and a picnic and hope the promised toilet has materialised by then or I'll never get DD up there - far too prim to pee behind a bush

[philskin]

My lad and myself have a competition every year ,growing the best carrots he usually wins , but children need a competitive element heres no 1 son and his little patch and it took ages to learn him how to lean on his spade properly

                   

                   

                   

                   

[Mrs sawnee]

We nearly always take our kids (3 & to the lottie every time we visit (unless our eldest doth protest too much and we leave him with the grandparents). 

Competition is the best way to go - our son is in charge of the carrots each year and tries to out do everyone on site.  He has always been a faddy eater but since owning the allotment he now tries most veg and eats loadsa fruit.  Curly Kale is his absolute favourite - Shock

Our daughter who is only 3 is quite happy with her chalk board and as long as we have a continuous supply of snacks to hand she is happy   Only trouble is she picks all the strawberries and raspberries before we do   Last year she stripped the white currant bush and ate them by the handful.  Weird child!!!

[jolly jen]

So.... all hope is lost with 15yo but I might be able to salvage something 00with 8yo...
what am I talking about?... getting kids interested in GYO!!!

How can I get 8yo interested to tear himself away from fantasy roleplay games (I blame his dad  ) and into growing at least some veg for himself.

I've tried promising him his own veg patch on the lottie (which I'll probably end up looking after) with the caveat that he tends this himself which he's kind of agreed to, but he will probably lose interest.... what can I do to keep his interest!!!??

only way to keep them intreasted with a 11 year old and  a 9 year old is to pay them,,,,,

i have woodchipped all my paths at the allotment,it is a steep hill to the bottom of the car park ,where the council dump the wood chip ,,so i payed them a £5 to do it for me,,,kept them quiet and busy..
they do maon about going to the allotment but at this time of year it is a bit dull for them.they love it in the summer picking all the fruit and veg.

[sunshineband]

Financial bribery may be the key 

[SnooziSuzi]

Bribery might be the key for the 15yo but the 8yo son is keen to grow pumpkins for profit!! thanks for that Chimerea! 

son is now interested in looking after his own chooks, so as we are building a new chicken hutch he might be allowed to look after the warrens and orps (with help, of course!)

[BestBreast]

Thing is where does the bribery end? If you want them to enjoy it you need to find a starting point and let their passion grow.

[SnooziSuzi]

Thing is where does the bribery end? If you want them to enjoy it you need to find a starting point and let their passion grow.

well, my own experience, and probably that of many others, is that my grandad had an allotment with bees and I wasn't really that interested in growing my own until one ephiphinous day whilst planting gladiolae bulbs that I decided to get an allotment - it was like an awakening and I've never been happier since I got mine, so maybe I just need to wait another 30 years for it to happen naturally!! 

[matthew2riches]

 

Just drag them down the lottie kicking and screaming.  They can then either sit there and get cold or do some work and still be cold.

 

[Faz]

Our oldest (9) isn't really interested, apart from digging holes.

Our little un is 2 and a half now and I'm hoping that she will continue to be interested this year. She liked digging up the parsnips at Christmas and most importantly she likes squishing caterpillars, so maybe by caulis will be free from damage this year if she spends an hour a day doing that!

Last year she liked helping sowing the seeds, which went something like - chuck a few in the general direction of the drill, eat a few, spit out the dry bits, ask for more seeds!

My onions were all over the place

[SnooziSuzi]

Last year she liked helping sowing the seeds, which went something like - chuck a few in the general direction of the drill, eat a few, spit out the dry bits, ask for more seeds!

LOL!  She sounds great!

My onions were all over the place

 

[sunshineband]

We grew cress in the shape of letters of granddughter's name, which  went down really weel when she realised -- very keen to plan things now!

[Kagganz]

lovely photos philskin !!!

[digalotty]

looks like a chip off the old block there philskin

[philskin]

lovely photos philskin !!!

 thanks it was one of those rare days ,and that big yellow thing in the sky was shining