kids and potting mix

[jembelina]

I am finally getting organised in my garden!! I am ina rented property with no garden beds so am in the process of builing up an assortment of pots, hanging baskets and planter boxes - all of which require potting mix............
And this is where my problem arises. I really want ds to be able to 'help' in the garden, but am worried about him having contact with the potting mix. I am very careful myself as I am pregnant and would wear gloves even if I wasn't. So, what can I do? I don't want him to miss out! I know he would have a ball, but so far I ahve been doing it while he sleeps.
Any suggestions?

[Chickadee]

You can buy kid size gardening gloves, though he may not want to wear them or be able to do much with them on.

I think I would transfer some of the potting mix into a tub and wet it down slightly to control the dust from it. Then work out of the tub. Your son could use a small trowel or a plastic scoop to take potting mix out of the tub and into the planter pot, and so avoid using his hands except to help you pat around the new plants. Cheap plastic scoops can be found in the homewares section of discount stores, the sort of ones you'd find in bins at a bulk food shop.

Other good toddler tasks that keep his hands out of the potting mix would be to put the plants or seeds in the holes you prepare, choosing which plants to put where, and watering them in.

[book_mum]

I was very active in getting my toddlers to help pot up herbs in my courtyard and wore gloves until I started getting really fatigued and tired alot. Turns out I got Toxoplasmosis from the potting mix, either from breathing in when tipping it in or even just getting a speck on my clothes and it falling into a food source.
My doctor was really adamant that you have to wear a facemask whenever you pot up!!
cheers,
M