Maintaining an open line of communication with children is extremely beneficial for their social and emotional development. Getting kids to share what they experience during the day, either good or bad helps them to 'grow' through what they go through with a positive outlook. It helps gardeners develop communication skills, encourages self-reflection, builds stronger relationships, improves problem-solving skills, and reduces stress and anxiety. Scroll down for some helpful Tips Unpack Your Day & To Get Gardeners (of all ages) To Open Up & Talk About Their Day and to download the 'Gardening Tool Badge for this exercise. As a parent ,caregiver or guardian, it can be challenging to get children to open up about their day. However, there are several techniques that you can try to encourage kids to share their experiences with you. Here Are Some Helpful Tips To Unpack Your Day: Create a routine: Establish a regular time and place for your children to talk about their day. This could be after they get home from school, during dinner or before bedtime. By making it a routine, your children will come to expect it/look forward to it, and it will become a natural part of their day. Ask open-ended questions: Instead of asking yes or no questions, ask your children open-ended questions that require more detailed answers. For example, instead of asking "Did you have a good day?", ask "What was the best part of your day?" "Who was kind to you today?" "Was anyone unkind to you today?" Express interest: When your children do share something with you, show that you are interested and engaged. Ask follow-up questions and encourage them to tell you more. Be patient: Sometimes, your children may not want to talk about their day right away. Be patient and give them some space. They may be more willing to open up later on. Avoid judgment: Try not to judge or criticize your children for what they share with you. This will only make them less likely to open up in the future. By using these tips as a guideline, you can create a comfortable and supportive environment that encourages your children to share their experiences with you. Remember, it may take some time and effort, but planting the seeds to keep the line of communication open with young gardeners helps cultivate resilience, empathy and a positive disposition. Hey gardeners, did Unpack Your day with a trusted gardener? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Unpack Your day 'Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet! Unpack Your Day: Tips To Get Gardeners To Open Up and Talk About Their Day

A Delectable Brussels Sprouts Baked Feta Recipe Perfect for Thanksgiving: Hello gardeners! Join us today in preparing an incredibly delicious Baked Feta Brussels Sprouts recipe that's simple to make and oh-so-tasty. With minimal ingredients, this dish is perfect as a side for your Thanksgiving meal, and it's fun for gardeners of all ages to help prepare. Scroll down to get this super tasty recipe and scroll all the way down to collect your 'Gardening Tool' Badge for this activity! Cooking can be a fun and educational activity for gardeners of all ages which is why it is one of Gardner Anna's 'go-to' Gardening Tools. By getting kids involved in the kitchen, children can learn a variety of skills that can benefit their social and emotional development. Cooking & Baking Are Wonderful Gardening Tools To Help A Gardener's Social & Emotional Development: Builds confidence: When kids help out in the kitchen, they gain a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work. This can help boost their self-esteem and confidence. Enhances creativity: Cooking is a creative activity that allows gardeners of all ages to experiment with different flavors and ingredients. This can help develop their creativity and imagination. Teaches life skills: Cooking involves a variety of skills, such as measuring, following directions, and problem-solving. These are important life skills that can help kids in other areas of their lives. Fosters teamwork: Cooking with others requires cooperation and communication, which can help kids develop teamwork skills. Encourages healthy eating habits: When kids are involved in the cooking process, they are more likely to try new foods and develop a taste for healthy options...like Brussel Sprouts! Delectable Baked Feta Brussel Sprouts Recipe 2-3 Cups Halved Bussel Sprouts 1 Package of Crumbled Feta 1 Tbsp melted Butter Mixed Into 1 Tbsp Olive Oil Salt & Pepper To Taste Chili Flakes (Optional) Balsamic Glaze (Optional) Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. With a baking brush coat the bottom of an oven safe baking dish with the butter/oil mixture. Layer the dish with the crumbled feta. Place the Brussels sprouts on top face down and push firmly into the cheese. Brush the rest of the butter/oil mixture on top of the sprouts. Season with salt & pepper, chili flakes. Bake for about 25 minutes until sprouts and cheese look crispy. Let rest for 5-10 minutes. Drizzle with blasamic glaze and dig in! *This recipe was inspired by @spinachandbacon via Instagram. Brussel sprouts are a type of cruciferous vegetable that are often overlooked and underrated. However, these little green veggies are not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. Here are some fun gardenery facts about Brussel sprouts that you may not know: Brussel sprouts are part of the same family as cabbage, kale, and broccoli. They were first cultivated in Belgium in the 16th century, which is where their name comes from. Brussel sprouts contain high levels of vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber. They also contain compounds called glucosinolates, which have anti-cancer properties. Brussel sprouts can be roasted, sautéed, boiled, or even eaten raw in salads. They are often paired with bacon, which complements their slightly bitter flavor. The largest producer of Brussel sprouts in the world is the United Kingdom. In 2019, a farmer in the UK grew the world's largest Brussel sprout, which weighed in at 8.3 ounces. Brussel sprouts are a popular side dish during Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners in the United States. Hey gardeners...are you looking for some more kid-approved, family friendly recipes? Click Here & dig into some more... Hey gardeners, did you make our Baked Feta Brussel Sprouts? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Baked Feta Brussel Sprouts' Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet! Delectable Baked Feta Brussel Sprouts

Spreading Seeds at the NJMAC Conference: Last week the gardeners rose before dawn to set up a table at the NJMAC Conference in Edison, NJ in efforts to spread some seeds to Montessori educators. Being surrounded by such passionate educators was truly inspiring and made the event even more wonderful. Gardener Anna and Gardener Aidan are both graduates of the Montessori education, so it was an incredible experience for them to see how connected the community is. The energy in the room was glowing from start to finish, and it was inspiring to see so many people sharing their knowledge and expertise with one another. We reconnected with and met so many amazing people, and we hope to maintain these valuable connections for years to come. One of the highlights of the Convention was the keynote address by a renowned Montessori expert, Elizabeth Slade. Her talk was both informative and thought-provoking, and it really challenged us to think deeply about the role of education in our society and setting up strong systems and structures for success. “Empowering children to be positive agents in this world, starts with empowering ourselves.”~ Saloni Mathur, NJMAC President The Montessori community is truly special, and we were honored to be a part of it. We learned so much from the experience, and we were grateful to be able to share our own experiences and insights with others as well. The Montessori Convention was an unforgettable experience for the gardeners as everything we do is rooted in family, community and connection. We look forward to attending and participating in many more events like this in the future. To learn more about booking an assembly, student workshop or professional development training for your team please email us at flowers@youareagardener.com or click here for more information! Spreading Seeds at the NJMAC Conference

Hello gardeners! Cultivating gratitude and appreciation within young children is extremely important for their social and emotional development. Scroll down and discover helpful tips to raise grateful gardeners and cultivate gratitude in kids. Learn how to encourage empathy, practice gratitude, volunteer together, and more. 1. Encourage empathy: Help your children develop empathy by encouraging them to put themselves in other people's shoes. This will help them appreciate the struggles and challenges that others may face. 2. Model/practice gratitude: Children learn by example, so make sure to model gratitude in your own life. Express thankfulness for the things you have and show appreciation towards others. Set aside a designated time everyday to talk about the things you are grateful for (dinnertime, bedtime, downtime). 3. Volunteer together: Volunteering as a family is a great way to teach children the importance of giving back. It also helps them appreciate the things they have in their own life. 4. Encourage children to say "thank you": Teach your children to say "thank you" when someone does something nice for them or helps them with something. This will help them recognize the kindness of others. 5. Teach gardeners to be mindful: Encourage your children to be mindful of the present moment and to appreciate the beauty around them. This can help them develop a sense of gratitude towards life. Arts & Crafts are a wonderful way to help with mindfulness. 6. Celebrate accomplishments: Celebrate your children's accomplishments and successes, no matter how big or small. This will help them appreciate the effort they put in and the sense of achievement that comes with it. 7. Model gratitude and appreciation in your own life. Children learn by example, so demonstrating gratitude in your own life and expressing appreciation for the people and things around you can help set a positive tone. Grow a gratitude garden at home...click here! 8. Foster a sense of community. Helping children see themselves as part of a larger community can help them develop gratitude for the people and resources that support them. By cultivating gratitude and appreciation in young children, we can help them develop the social and emotional skills they need to navigate the world with empathy, kindness, and resilience. Hey gardeners, Count Your Flowers is one of our favorite ways to practice gratitude. Check it out here! Helpful Tips To Raise Grateful Gardeners: Cultivating Gratitude

Today on the #PullYourWeeds Blog we are turning our table cards into greeting cards and making thumbprint turkeys to mail to our family and friends! Scroll Down For Step By Step Instructions On How To Make These Adorable Thumbprint Turkey Table Cards Kids love contributing to the holidays and teaching them how to make table cards/greeting cards is a wonderful way to get them involved. These handmade fingerprint cards are kid-friendly, easy to make and are so cute you can even frame them! Here's What You Need: 🦃 Cardstock, paint, googly eyes, construction paper, a gel pen or marker Cut a piece of cardstock or construction paper into your desired size and fold it half. Put yellow, red, orange and brown paint into separate bowls. Take your middle or pointer finger, dip in yellow paint and make 7-8 prints. Next do the same in orange paint and overlap the yellow a little bit. Repeat with the red paint but you will only need to do 4-5 prints. Dip your thumb in brown paint to the center and down of the feathers. Let dry completely. (This part takes patience as they may have to sit for several hours) Once dry, glue on 2 googly eyes and a tiny triangle beak cut from construction paper. With a gel pen or marker draw the turkeys legs. Get creative with anything else you would like to add! Use them as table cards or write a note on them and mail them to family & friends! Note: We let ours dry overnight as the paint was pretty thick in some spots. Just like no one has the same fingerprints, each of these turkeys comes out truly unique. This Thanksgiving craft for kids is a wonderful way to add color to you table settings and is also a bright and cheerful handmade greeting card to receive in the mail. We would love to see your handmade thumbprint turkey cards! Tag us in your your photos with @youareagardenr and #pullyourweeds or send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com and will post them for you! Press Play to watch the 2018 Thanksgiving Episode of Hello Gardeners® Happy Thanksgiving to all our gardener friends and family...Gobble, gobble! 🦃 Hey gardeners, did you make our Thumbprint Turkey Cards? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Thumbprint Turkey 'Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet!

Fall is a season that brings a lot of natural beauty with it, and what better way to celebrate it than by creating a fun and easy craft that bring the outdoors in. Today's craft is is inspired by the hedgehog characters in our children's book , You Are a Gardener. Gardener Kelsey's brand new video shows us how to make these easy and adorable Leafy Hedgehog with very minimal materials. Scroll down to watch the step-by-step video and scroll all the way down to download your Gardening Tool Badge for this craft! PRESS PLAY TO WATCH GARDENER KELSEY MAKE THIS LEAFY HEDGEHOG FALL CRAFT Fun Gardener Fact: In today’s culture hedgehogs are seen as positive animals that symbolize happiness, motherhood, and calmness. They are loved by people because of their relaxed and non-aggressive behavior. Overall, hedgehogs are simply calm and relaxed creatures that symbolize everything that is positive in the world. We felt hedgehogs would be the perfect choice for this particular page of the book. Our illustrator @kdel76 did such an amazing job at capturing an open and intimate moment. Here are some additional ideas and tips to help you make the most of your fall hedgehog craft: Gather a variety of leaves in different colors and sizes. This will give your hedgehogs a more realistic and interesting look. Use a clear drying glue to attach the leaves to your hedgehog shape or double sided tape. Experiment with different arrangements of leaves to create different textures and patterns on your hedgehogs. (You can also add acorns or other natural materials to give them even more character.) If you're hanging your hedgehogs on a window, use clear string or fishing line to give the illusion that they're floating in mid-air. You can also make a larger version of the hedgehog and use it as a centerpiece for your fall-themed table setting or Thanksgiving. If you're feeling adventurous, try making other animal shapes using leaves and natural materials. Some ideas include birds, butterflies, and squirrels. Remember, the key to a successful fall Leafy Hedgehog Craft is to have fun and let your creativity run wild. Happy crafting gardeners! Hey gardeners, did you make our Leafy Hedgehog Craft? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'Leafy Hedgehog Craft 'Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet! You Are a Gardener® goes beyond the pages of a children's book, it is an entire movement dedicated to empowering children at home and in school with a vocabulary, mindset and tools to manage stress and big emotions. Join our community and embrace the power of turning challenges into opportunities for growth through connecting children, families and educators with a shared emotional language. Through our inspiring #PullYourWeeds® initiative, we encourage children and adults alike to identify emotional obstacles and transform them into seeds of resilience, strength, and personal development.

You Are a Gardener® Photo Contest: Calling all gardeners! We would love to see pictures of you with a copy of our book. As a thank you, all photo entries will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Send us your photos to flowers@youareagardener.com ! All entries will be submitted for our Grand Prize of a Limited Edition Hardcover copy of You Are a Gardener® and lots of gardener goodies ($75Value) See contest details below. Thank you to Gardener Blair and her family in Shepherdstown, West Virginia for sending in this adorable Sideline Storytime Photo! You Are a Gardener® Photo Contest Details: Send photos to flowers@youareagardener.com Multiple photos are welcome but will count as one submission By sending in your photo(s) you approve that You Are a Gardener® has permission to feature them on our platform One Amazon gift card per family Contest Ends 11/30/23 Winner will be chosen the week of 12/4 and will be notified via email

Top 5 Reasons to Purchase a Copy Of Our Children's Book You Are a Gardener®: 1. Opens up the lines of communication for kids to talk about their feelings with trusted sources. 2. Our book uses gardening vocabulary as emotional metaphors that young children and gardeners of all ages can easily relate to (flowers, weeds & seeds). 3. It encourages empathy, inclusivity, kindness and responsible decision making. 4. It teaches positive conflict/resolution skills. 5. The more 'gardening tools' kids have to help manage stress and big emotions, the more resilient they will be! What are you waiting for let's grow...click here! A the core of our children's book You Are a Gardener®️ lies a universal emotional language that speaks directly to the hearts of 'gardeners' of all ages—flowers, weeds, and seeds. These simple yet profound metaphors lay the foundation for a new narrative, empowering individuals to navigate their emotions with grace and resilience. Top 5 Reasons To Purchase You Are a Gardener®

As children grow, they encounter various challenges that can affect their emotional and mental well-being at all ages. Ensuring that children have a safe space to express their feelings and emotions is crucial to their social and emotional development. Our children's book and platform, You Are a Gardener® was created as a response to help young kids identify when they are feeling deep emotions and to provide them with a vocabulary and tools to help them communicate these feelings with trusted sources. Keeping the lines of communication open among children and trusted sources is the foundation to nurturing emotional resilience and personal growth. Here Are Some Tips To Help Children Plant Seeds Of Emotional Resilience Introduce children to our gardening vocabulary by purchasing a copy of our book or by learning the core You Are a Gardener® vocabulary and mindset here. Help young gardeners start building up their 'gardening toolbox' with healthy gardening tools (aka coping strategies). Exploring gardening tools helps kids feel calm and confident and empowers them with the appreciation that they have the power to control the way they feel.. Check out some of our favorite 'Gardening Tools' here. Be consistent. Use gardening vocabulary and gardening tools everyday and have open conversations about the 'weeds' children encounter and help them find healthy ways to grow through it. Enjoy the flowers along the way by practicing gratitude daily. As gardeners we work hard to grow our flowers bright and strong. Taking a few minutes to practice gratitude everyday is extremely calming, rewarding and relaxing. Use us as a resource! Read our #PullYourWeeds® Blog (2-3 new posts every week), subscribe to our Weeds to Seeds Newsletter, watch our videos on YouTube, book an assembly for your school, or send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com with any questions/suggestions. Keeping the lines of communication open for children is crucial to their emotional and mental well-being. By providing children with a safe space to express their feelings and emotions, we can help them plant the seeds to develop the skills they need to navigate life's challenges and build a foundation for a healthy and fulfilling future. Here are some ways in which open communication can help build emotional resilience in children: Encourages self-expression: Children who feel comfortable expressing their emotions are more likely to develop healthy coping mechanisms. Encouraging children to talk about their feelings and experiences can help them identify their emotions and understand how to respond to them. Fosters trust: When children feel that they can trust the adults in their lives, they are more likely to be open and honest about their experiences. This can help build stronger relationships between children and trusted sources, which can be invaluable in times of need. Provides support: Open communication can also provide children with the support they need during difficult times. When children feel that they can talk to someone about their problems, they are less likely to feel isolated and more likely to seek help when they need it. Builds resilience: By providing children with the 'gardening tools' they need to navigate their emotions, open communication can help build emotional resilience. Children who are emotionally resilient are better equipped to handle life's challenges and are more likely to thrive as they grow older. You Are a Gardener® goes beyond the pages of a children's book, it is an entire movement dedicated to empowering children at home and in school with a vocabulary, mindset and tools to manage stress and big emotions. Join our community and embrace the power of turning challenges into opportunities for growth through connecting children, families and educators with a shared emotional language. Through our inspiring #PullYourWeeds® initiative, we encourage children and adults alike to identify emotional obstacles and transform them into seeds of resilience, strength, and personal development. Nurturing Emotional Resilience: Keeping the Lines of Communication Open

We recently had the pleasure of presenting our #PullYourWeeds® Assembly to the 419 students at Oak Street Elementary School, and it was such an amazing experience. There was such a strong sense of school spirit in the air (it was crazy sock day too) which made the assembly all the more enjoyable. The staff of Oak Street was incredibly welcoming, supportive and kind, and the students were highly engaged and participatory. The students at Oak Street School are some of the most respectful, kind and engaging groups we have worked with. They are a true reflection of the wonderful culture the school's administration is nurturing. It is always so refreshing to see a community as connected as Oak Street (it starts from the top)! Without a doubt, the auditorium at Oak Street School is the most stunning and impressive venue we've ever performed at. A fun fact about Oak St. is that Meryl Street had attended the school when she was younger and had performed on the same stage as our #PullYourWeeds® assembly. Overall, the message of our program was extremely well received by the students and we know 'growing' forward all 419 children know the power of the words flowers, weeds and seeds! We would like to extend a special thank you to Principal Foley and Assistant Principal Mr. Thorp for their warm introductions and gracious applause. We also want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Linda Ingling, the school's secretary, for her outstanding coordination of the event. Thank Oak Street School....you are gardeners! We can't wait to see where you 'grow'! Read Reviews Of Our #PullYourWeeds® Programs...Click Here! OAK STREET SCHOOL AUDITORIUM IN BASKING RIDGE, NJ Purchase a signed copy of our children's book, You Are a Gardner® today! To learn more about our #PullYourWeeds® SEL Assembly and Programs ...Click Here! You Are a Gardener® goes beyond the pages of a children's book, it is an entire movement dedicated to empowering children at home and in school with a vocabulary, mindset and tools to manage stress and big emotions. Join our community and embrace the power of turning challenges into opportunities for growth through connecting children, families and educators with a shared emotional language. Through our inspiring #PullYourWeeds® initiative, we encourage children and adults alike to identify emotional obstacles and transform them into seeds of resilience, strength, and personal development.

Get Tangled Up In DIY Dream Catchers: Dream catchers are a beautiful and symbolic part of Native American culture. These intricate webs are traditionally made from natural materials like willow hoops, sinew, and feathers. The belief is that the dreamcatcher would capture bad dreams, allowing only positive dreams to pass through, ensuring a restful night's sleep.They are said to have originated with the Ojibwe people, but have since been adopted by other tribes and have become popular decorative items around the world. Crafting dream catchers has been a popular craft activity for many years but that's not the only reason to get tangled up in this awesome activity. Creating DIY Dream Catchers can also have a peaceful and calming effect on gardeners of all ages. Today Gardener Kelsey is going to teach us how to make our very own Dream Catchers to help us all have sweet and flowery dreams. Scroll down to watch the step- by-step tutorial and scroll all the way down to download your Gardening Tool badge for this activity! << PRESS PLAY TO WATCH GARDENER KELSEY MAKE DIY DREAM CATCHERS >> Why Dream Catchers are the Ultimate Craft Project & a Great Gardening Tool: Creativity: Making a dream catcher allows gardeners to express their creativity by choosing their own colors, patterns, and decorations. This can help boost confidence and sense of accomplishment. Mindfulness: Creating a dream catcher requires focus and attention to detail, which can help develop mindfulness and concentration skills. This can also be a great stress-relieving activity for gardeners of all ages. Cultural significance: Dream catchers have Native American origins and are often seen as a symbol of protection and positivity. By making your own dream catcher, gardeners can learn about the cultural significance of this craft and gain a deeper appreciation for it. DIY satisfaction: There's something satisfying about creating something with your own hands. Making a dream catcher allows us to experience this sense of pride and accomplishment, which can help boost self-esteem. Decorative addition: Once the dream catcher is complete, it can be hung up in a bedroom as a decorative accessory around your classroom or home. It can serve as a reminder of creativity and mindfulness, and can also bring a sense of calmness to the room. Making a dream catcher is a fun and rewarding activity to do at home and/or in school to promote creativity, mindfulness, and cultural appreciation. We love this page from our You Are a Gardener® children's book. The way the lavender frames the fox is so sweet and nurturing. Hey gardeners, did you make your own Dream Catcher? If so, congratulations, you just earned yourself the 'DIY Dream catcher ' Gardening Tool Badge'! --> Click the badge to download a pdf sticker for your Gardening Tool Badge Collector Sheet! You Are a Gardener® goes beyond the pages of a children's book, it is an entire movement dedicated to empowering children at home and in school with a vocabulary, mindset and tools to manage stress and big emotions. Join our community and embrace the power of turning challenges into opportunities for growth through connecting children, families and educators with a shared emotional language. Through our inspiring #PullYourWeeds® initiative, we encourage children and adults alike to identify emotional obstacles and transform them into seeds of resilience, strength, and personal development. Get Tangled Up In DIY Dream Catchers

A reminder to all gardeners: As you nurture your garden, don't forget to be patient with yourself. Just like flowers and weeds coexist in a garden, you can be happy, hurting and healing all at the same time. As you continue to nurture your garden, remember that it is a process. It takes time for the seeds to grow and for the plants to flourish. Similarly, healing is also a process that takes time and patience. Here are some gardening tips (for gardeners of all ages) to help you be patient with yourself while you are in a state of emotional healing: Take breaks when you need them. Just like you take a break from tending to your garden, take breaks from your healing process when you need to and try to seek out moments of happiness. Meet up with friends, watch a funny movie, read a silly book. Don't compare yourself to others. Each garden is unique and so is each healing journey. Focus on your own progress and celebrate your own successes. Practice self-care. Just like you nourish your garden with water and sunlight, nourish yourself with things that make you feel good, such as exercise, healthy food, and hobbies. Be kind to yourself. Remember gardeners that healing is not a linear process and setbacks are normal. Treat yourself with compassion and understanding. Seek support when you need it. Just like plants need support to grow, you may need support from friends, family, or a therapist to help you through your healing journey. Your healing journey is a beautiful and worthwhile process. Be patient with yourself and trust that you will continue to grow through this at your own pace. And remember gardeners you can be happy, hurting and healing all at the same time.