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How to Start & Grow a Cut Flower Garden with Kids

Creative Team — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 06:32:00 +0000

If you enjoy bringing the outside in, gathering a few flowers from your garden to admire on the kitchen table, gifting bouquets to friends, or using in nature crafts and projects, then consider starting a small cut flower garden. Tending these plants from the smallest of seeds into colorful beauties brings a wonderful sense of accomplishment and joy. Plus, gardening has so many amazing benefits for both kids and parents. Today, Illinois mom of three, Meghan Garriott, is here sharing everything you need to know about planting and growing a cut flower garden with kids and the harvesting and arranging of flowers.

Growing a cut flower garden with kids

Starting and growing a cut flower garden is a relaxing and beautiful hobby. Involving children in the planning, growing, and harvesting of flowers can be a great learning and bonding experience. No matter your previous gardening experience, this post is designed to help you get started growing your own cut flower garden. I’m sharing some great plants to start off incorporating into your garden or yard, including a list of the easiest flowers to grow for kids and beginners.

What is a cut flower garden?

A cut flower garden is a garden specifically for flowers or foliage that will be harvested for fresh or dried bouquets and flower arrangements. The flowers are selected based on their bloom time, size, and color. Ideally, they have long stems and bright colors and maintain a long shelf life in a vase. Cut flowers can be annuals or perennials, flowers, filler plants, bushes, and foliage. Purposefully choosing a wide variety of flowers with differing bloom times will allow you to enjoy bouquets throughout the growing season, including spring, summer, and fall. These plants intended for cutting can be planted throughout your outdoor landscaping or in a separate area designated for cutting.

Benefits of growing a cut flower garden with kids

Growing a cut flower garden with kids can offer numerous benefits and educational opportunities. Here are a few benefits of growing a cut flower garden with your kids:

Botanical knowledge: Kids can learn about various flowers, their life cycles, and the different parts of plants.
Science skills: Observing the growth process teaches them about biology, ecology, and the importance of sunlight, water, and soil.
Responsibility: Caring for the garden instills a sense of responsibility as kids learn to water, weed, and nurture the plants.
Patience and delayed gratification: Waiting for flowers to bloom teaches patience and the reward of delayed gratification.
Appreciation for nature: Kids develop a deeper appreciation for the environment and the beauty of nature.
Environmental stewardship: Caring for plants helps instill a sense of environmental responsibility and stewardship.
Creativity through floral arranging: Picking and arranging flowers encourages creativity and artistic expression and teaches art principles like color theory, lines, and textures.
Sensory stimulation: Engaging with flowers provides a sensory-rich experience, from touching the petals to smelling the blooms.
Tactile learning: Gardening involves hands-on activities that enhance tactile learning.
Outdoor exercise: Gardening is a physical activity that encourages kids to spend time outdoors and get exercise in a natural setting.
Sense of accomplishment: Watching their garden bloom gives children a sense of accomplishment and boosts their self-esteem.
Stress reduction: Being in nature and tending to plants has been shown to reduce stress and promote overall well-being.
Math and organizational skills: Involving kids in planning the garden layout and spacing of plants enhances their math and organizational skills.
Culinary exploration: Some flowers are edible, and kids can explore using them in culinary activities, adding another dimension to their learning.
Teamwork: Gardening can be a collaborative effort, promoting teamwork and social interaction among kids.
Sharing and generosity: Kids can share the flowers they grow, teaching them about generosity and sharing with others.

Uses for a cut flower garden

Why should you grow a cut flower garden? The possibilities and reasons are endless!

First and foremost, the main reason most people grow flowers is because they are beautiful. Flowers not only make your garden and landscape more captivating and enticing but harvesting flowers from your garden allows you to create stunning and fresh floral arrangements to decorate your home. Handpicked flowers make thoughtful and personalized gifts for friends and family. Growing your own flowers can be cost-effective compared to purchasing floral bouquets regularly.

Flower gardens attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, contributing to the health of the local ecosystem. Growing your own flowers supports local and sustainable practices, reducing the environmental impact associated with commercially grown and transported flowers.

And, of course, gardening and working with flowers have therapeutic benefits, promoting relaxation and reducing stress. The act of nurturing plants and watching them bloom can positively impact mental well-being. Gardening and cultivating a cut flower garden can be a rewarding and enjoyable hobby, offering a connection to nature and a break from daily routines.

How to set up your cut flower garden

Before choosing your flowers, you’ll need to figure out where to plant them so your garden will flourish. There are a few factors that make for a great cut flower garden location: access to sunlight, protection from the wind, a well-drained area, and healthy soil.

Where to plant your cut garden

First, decide where you will be planting these flowers and foliage. Will you have a separate bed just for cut flowers, or will you space them out among your current landscaping? A cut flower garden doesn’t have to take up a lot of room. You can easily grow from the small pots on the porch, in a raised bed in the backyard, or on a sunny windowsill!

Find a location in your yard that receives adequate sunlight. Most flowers prefer full sun, so picking a spot that achieves 6-8 hours of sunlight per day is ideal. This will also satisfy any flowers that require partial sun. Be sure to check the back of the seed packets for sunlight requirements.

Also, consider wind and rain exposure. Lots of flowers grow fairly tall, and a strong wind can easily break them down. See if you can give them some protection from the elements if you live in a blustery or rainy environment.

It’s also important to find a well-drained area that won’t hold rainwater. Flowers don’t like to be kept overly moist, and too much water, especially standing water, will impede your flowers from growing and thriving.

Finally, a cut garden also needs fertile, workable soil (typically topsoil and compost). Obtaining a soil test will help you to determine what nutrients you might be missing in your soil, so you can add those missing nutrients back into the soil. Adding organic matter, including compost, leaf litter, and composted manure, will add nutrients to the soil and assist with proper water retention and drainage.

Creating flower beds

If you will be making new beds for your cut garden, it’s best to have long and narrow beds with room to walk in between. This way, you can reach all of the flowers for cutting. When gardening with children, you will want to make sure the flowers won’t be too high up for them to cut. So keep tall flowers on the ground and shorter flowers and raised beds.

I have my cut flowers planted on the ground around my raised garden beds. Many cut flowers are also deer-resistant, so last year, I planted them around my vegetable garden for a dual purpose!

Easy, kid-friendly flowers to grow in your cut garden

There are so many different flowers and foliage that can be grown in a cut flower garden. When choosing flowers, consider a mix of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures. This will give you the most variety in your flower arrangements! Depending on what climate zone (find your hardiness zone here) you are in, you will have different plants that are appropriate for your area. When growing with kids, it’s best to choose flowers that are low-maintenance and have showy, colorful blooms to drool over.

Here are a few of my favorite flowers that can be grown almost anywhere with a little maintenance.

Annuals (needs planning every year)

Zinnias
Cosmos
Sunflowers
Celosia
Snapdragons
Nasturtium
Sweet peas

Perennial plants and flowers (comes back each year)

Black-eyed Susan’s
Echinacea (cone glower)
Yarrow
Aster
Daisies
Hydrangeas
Dahlias (perennial, depending on where you live)
Tulips
Peonies

Greens and fillers to grow in your cut garden

Fillers and foliage not only give contrast and texture to flower arrangements, but they can also offer beautiful scents! Here are some easy-to-grow greens and fillers!

Bells of Ireland
Green or purple Basil
Mint
Dill

Tips for choosing cut flower seeds and bulbs

Once you have decided where you will be planting, you will need to choose the right seeds or bulbs for that area. If you want your cut garden to produce across seasons, you’ll need to consider this when choosing your flowers. Bulbs will have to be planted in the fall for spring blooms. Seeds can be planted in the spring for summer and fall blooms.

In order to get the most out of your garden for the longest time, I suggest picking different varieties of spring and summer flowers for each location. An example would be planting tulips or daffodils in the same area as Black-eyed Susans and purple coneflowers. Since these flowers grow in different seasons, they will not be competing with each other for nutrients, but they’ll maximize the number of flowers you can get out of one location.

Another thing to consider when choosing your seeds is germination time. Germination time is the time it takes for the seed to begin to sprout. Seeds that have a long germination time will be more difficult to grow and will need to be started indoors if you live in a cooler climate. Flowers like sunflowers and zinnias usually germinate in a week or so, which makes them ideal for anxious kids who are ready to see their flowers growing.

Where to find flower seeds, plants, and bulbs

There are lots of places you can get seeds, bulbs, plants, tubers, and transplants. For starters, check with your local nurseries or garden centers. This way you can see the flowers in person and ask any questions to the knowledgeable staff. In addition, starting in early spring, you should be able to find seed packets at your local hardware store, grocery store, farmer’s markets, or even the dollar store! Get the kids involved in this process and let them choose a flower, plant, or seed packet.

Planting seeds indoors

If you are itching to get the garden started, there are many options for starting your flowers indoors. This is also a fun way to get kids excited about spring and working in the garden. Most seeds will tell you on the back of their packet when to start indoors. Some seed flowers prefer to be sowed directly in the ground, so those will have to wait to be planted until after the danger of frost.

To start seeds inside, you will need:

Seed starting soil
Seed starting cells and trays
light source (window or grow lights)
warm area

Tips for starting seeds inside

To begin, mix some water with your seed-starting soil. The soil should be damp but not soupy. Fill the cells or pots with the mixture. Read the package for the desired planting depth. Make a small space in the middle of the pot or cell and plant the seed at the correct depth. Make sure you label what you have planted!

Place your newly planted seeds in a warm place with plenty of natural light or under a grow light. You will want to keep the seed nice and damp while waiting for germination! You can use a fan blowing on your seed tray to mimic wind, which can help the stalks grow stronger.

For bigger seeds like sunflowers, it can be fun to fold them into a damp paper towel and place them in a plastic bag and a warm area. This way, you can watch the seeds begin to sprout. After they sprout, plant them at the desired depth in a small pot or cell.

Once your seeds have sprouted and you’re out of the danger of frost, you can begin to move your sprouts outside. It is a good idea to put your trays of seeds/seedlings outside for a few hours on warm days to help them get acclimated to the wind, bright sun, and outdoor temperatures before planting. A few hours a day is a good start.

Planting bulbs outdoors

Bulb planting typically happens in the fall before the first frost. Each plant will have a specific planting depth and spacing, so be sure to follow the directions for that plant. Planting bulbs in the fall will help your garden span more seasons, as these plants usually come up in the spring prior to the last frost. This gives you fresh flowers sooner!

Here are some easy bulbs that grow flowers great for cutting:

Tulips
Daffodil
Hyacinth
Hosta
Iris
Crocus

Planting seeds outdoors

Seed planting typically happens in the spring after the danger of the last frost. For perennials, you will only have to plant one time, and then they will come up each year. For annuals, you will have to plant them again each year. Although, there are some annuals that will re-seed themselves.

Before planting your seeds, make sure the ground is raked and loose so the seeds can enter the soil. If you are planting in a small space or between other landscaping, be sure to give your seeds enough room for their full height and width. If you are planting in a large area, spreading the seeds around by hand can be a great task for your child.

Once the seeds have been planted, be sure to keep the ground damp for a few weeks to help the seeds germinate. You may have to watch out for squirrels and chipmunks, who love to feed on sunflower seedlings!

Transplanting seedlings outdoors

Transplanting your seedlings (that you started indoors) outdoors will also happen after the danger of the last frost. It is a good idea to put your seedlings outside for a few hours each day before transplanting outside. That way, they can get acclimated to temperatures and wind.

To transplant your seedlings, gently take the entire root bundle from its cell. And make your hole a little deeper than the depth of the cell. Put your root bundle in the hole and cover it completely. Again, make sure to keep the soil moist for the first couple of weeks after transplanting.

Caring for your cut flower garden

Between planting your garden and harvesting flowers, you’ll need to care for and maintain your cut flower garden. It will be important to keep the weeds or grass from growing around your growing flowers. Weeding is a great task for kids; just make sure they know what is a weed and what is a flower! Weeding can be done as often as every day or as little as once a week, depending on where your garden is located.

It will also be important to monitor how much rain your garden is getting. If you go more than a few days without rain, it’s a good idea to water them. It is best to water early in the morning or late in the evening. Again, watering the flowers is a great task for kids. Kids love using the garden hose; just be sure to show them how to water the plants properly (not too hard of spray) and not too much.

You may also want to fertilize your flowers twice a month with a well-balanced fertilizer.

Some flowers may need support, such as staking, netting, or corralling. For simple purposes at home, I would suggest using bamboo stakes and plant velcro to help support your flowers upright to get straighter stems.

How to make gardening fun for kids

There are so many ways to get the kids involved in the gardening process and make it fun for them. When planning your cut flower garden, be sure to involve kids in the seed-choosing process. Ask them to choose their favorite color flower, or let them pick a seed packet to plant. A specific color flower for each kid would be fun if you have multiple kids.

Get them involved in the maintenance process, too! It’s more fun when you dress the part, right? Getting some kid-size gardening gloves, a fun apron, and maybe a bucket hat can help kids look and feel ready to help! Smaller tools like shovels, mini rakes, and small watering cans will make it easier for them to assist in all the different ways we care for the garden!

And finally, make sure they get to help harvest the flowers and enjoy the fruit of their labor by helping make flower arrangements and bouquets. Before cutting, talk to your child about what colors or textures they want in the flower arrangement! Let them be the boss for choosing the flowers, and let the adult do the cutting until it’s appropriate for the child to use shears.

Harvesting flowers with kids

Now, we’re ready for the good part…harvesting the flowers!

For many cut flowers, the more you cut, the more they will bloom. This is definitely the case with cosmos and zinnias! So don’t be afraid to get in there and start cutting when blooming begins. Just be sure to leave enough of the plant so that other buds can grow.

However, some plants are a “one-hit wonder” and will only bloom once. Plants, such as single-stemmed sunflowers and tulips, only produce one flower and then are done. The one-hit wonders you will want to plant more of so that you have more blooms, and you may want to consider succession sowing them.

The best time to cut flowers is at the beginning of bloom or right at peak bloom. When going to cut flowers, it’s a good idea to know what size vase you are going to put them in. That way, you know how long of a stem to cut.

Using garden shears, cut at a 45° angle, this will allow the stem to get, the most water once in the vase. Harvest cut flowers when it is cool outside, either early in the morning or later in the evening. Place your flowers immediately in a bucket/vase of cool water and let them sit at least a few hours before you work with them. You may want to check the flower for her bugs and spiders before bringing it into the home!

How to make your cut flowers last longer

Once you’ve harvested your cut flowers from the garden, it’s time to arrange them. Here are simple steps to help extend the life of your flower bouquet:

Remove all the leaves off the bottom of the stem (the part that will be submerged in water) to keep them from rotting underwater.
Cut the stems at an angle to allow for greater water absorption.
Add some cut flower food into the vase of water.
Change the water daily or when it becomes murky (don’t just add more water).
When changing the water, re-cut the ends of the stems at an angle and add more flower food.
Remove any flowers or leaves that are dead or dying.
As you remove dead blooms, downsize to a smaller vase when your bouquet gets smaller.

Creating cut flower arrangements with kids

There are five design elements to keep in mind when it comes to arranging flowers. These elements are line, color, form, space, and texture. Depending on your child’s age, you may pick anywhere from one or all of these elements to focus on when designing your arrangement.

To start, I would focus on color and texture. These flower bouquets, based on color, will be the easiest for children to identify. When choosing colors for your arrangement, think of choosing complementary colors or analogous colors. Complementary colors are opposites on the color wheel, like yellow and purple, or red and green. Analogous colors are colors close together on the color wheel (e.g. yellow, peach, and orange).

When thinking about texture, try to have the child choose flowers with different petals, sizes, and shapes. Flowers with large petals (like zinnia and peonies), tend to be a more softer texture. Flowers with small, round, or frilly petals, like aster or yarrow, tend to give a contrasting texture.

When putting arrangements together, start small with just one or two different flowers, keeping their leaves for fill and contrast. As you get better at designing, you can snip the leaves off the stem so you only have the flowers and then choose your own filler flowers and foliage that add to your arrangement’s overall theme. To learn more about floral design, I loved the book Love Language Of Flowers.

Something fun I do with my kids after creating an arrangement is naming it. We usually name our arrangement of beautiful blooms based on its colors. A few examples are Sunset, this arrangement was full of bold magenta, yellows, and oranges like a sunset. Another flower bouquet example is one named Just Peachy; this one was full of peachy colors and lacy floral accents! The best thing about flower arranging is that you can do it however you want!

Sharing the love of flowers

Once your garden is producing a lot of flowers, you may have enough for multiple arrangements or bouquets. Have your child pick a person to gift an arrangement to and let them do all the work of making it and delivering it. Not only does this teach your child the importance of giving and sharing, but it will likely make somebody else’s day! Your child will have such a sense of pride when they see how happy their gift has made someone else! In addition to giving flowers to people you know, donating flower arrangements to local nursing homes and community centers can help children feel a sense of accomplishment for all their hard work!

Drying and pressing flowers

Live flower arrangements are not the only way you can enjoy your flowers. Drying and pressing flowers are a great way to enjoy and preserve your flowers. Flowers like daisies and pansies lend themselves to be easily pressed. Plants like strawflower, lavender, and Celosia can make beautiful dried arrangements that can be enjoyed all year long! You can even use pressed flowers to make a fun Halloween costume, like pressed flower butterfly wings.

Saving and collecting seeds

Once the blooming season is over, there is still work that can be done in the garden. Flowers like zinnia and cosmos are very easy to collect seeds from to save for the next year. Collecting seeds is not only an easy job for kids, but it is a great way to prepare for next year and save money. We collect seeds in paper sandwich bags and label them with the type of flower they are. We store these bags in a cool, dry place until next year. Seeds collected from your own garden are also a great gift to give to others!

Sustainability and recycling

It is important to teach sustainable practices for your cut flower garden. Saving seeds is a great start! Using reusable starter trays instead of plastic ones can also cut down on plastic waste. Used spaghetti jars, glass juice containers, and old mason jars can make great vases for arrangements. When you save these items, not only are you repurposing and recycling, but you have more vases to give away without spending money!

Learning while you grow

Creating a cut flower garden with your children is such a great way to teach science, math, and art skills. The time spent with your children in the garden will increase their confidence and give them a sense of responsibility. Plus, the flower arrangements you create will bring daily joy. It may be difficult getting started this first time, but it’s worth it. And every year, you and your children will learn and grow as people and as gardeners. Each year will be more bountiful, joyful, and meaningful. Good luck with starting your own cut flower garden this year!

Do you grow cut flowers in your garden?

About the author

Meghan is a midwestern mom of 3 kids and one dog. She is a physical therapist assistant and family photographer. At home, Meghan and her family enjoy gardening (both indoors and outside), riding ATVs, and exploring the river behind their house. When not at home, they can usually be found at the lake or exploring Illinois state parks. Meghan’s family has always loved the outdoors, but they really found a passion for being outside and photography when her oldest son had to undergo a bone marrow transplant as a baby. During her son’s recovery, being outside became a safe place for the whole family to learn, grow, and thrive.

You can find more from Meghan online in the following locations:
Instagram: @meghangarriott
Meghan’s RWMC posts: Meghan Garriott

The post How to Start & Grow a Cut Flower Garden with Kids appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

Wild Violet Foraging with Kids & Color-Changing Simple Syrup

Creative Team — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 18:56:19 +0000

Wild violets are one of the very first sure signs of spring and the warmth it brings. Seeing that first colorful sign of spring after a long cold winter is such a happy sight. While most people may consider violets as a pesky weed that commonly grows in yards, we’re here to change your mind. Today, Meghan Garriott, Illinois mom of three, is here to tell you all about the benefits of wild violets and how useful (and fun) they can be. Soon, you and your kids will be searching the yard and excited about foraging violets out in the wild! These edible and medicinal little flowers and leaves can be used to make jellies, color-changing simple syrups, salves, and so much more.

Benefits of foraging for violets

Foraging is gathering plant matter provided by nature to eat, use, or consume. Did you know that violet flowers (as well as their young leaves) are edible? Violets are known to be high in vitamin A and vitamin C and can be used in many different ways. In addition to being edible, violets have many known medicinal uses. Studies have shown that violets can help with insomnia, decrease oral cancers, and are good for skincare oils and salves.

Identifying wild violets for foraging

There are many different species of violets that can be found across the United States, Canada, and Australia. Violets can be white, yellow, or their namesake purple color. The violet colors can range from dark purple to a light lavender color. The contrast between the green leaves and violet flowers makes them the easiest to spot. Yellow varieties are may cause an upset stomach in large quantities, so we stick to the purple and white flowers.

The flower portion of a violet has five irregular petals that usually range from a penny to a half dollar in size. The stems of the flowers can be 3-6 inches long, which makes them easy for little hands to pick. The stems stick out from heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges. There are usually many flowers clumped together in one patch making them easy to spot even for the littlest foragers.

Violets spread and reproduce by underground rhizomes and seeds. These seeds sprout later in the season after the blooms are long gone. This is great news because it means you don’t have to worry about your harvest affecting next year’s growth. You can pick all you want!

Foraging for violets with children

The first time my 4 year old went violet foraging it only took a few minutes for him to begin finding patches by himself by identifying the leaves alone. When your children find them on their own for the first time, make sure to praise their efforts. Get excited with them! It’s a big deal for them to find things on their own and this extra encouragement can make foraging a lot more fun when they are proud of themselves.

Where to look for violets in the wild

Violets prefer partial sun or light shade and a good amount of moisture. We have the best luck finding them along shallow creeks with adequate tree coverage. In the earliest part of spring, you will find the first violets where the sun can warm the soil. The shadier areas will have violets in the later spring once the soil there warms to the right temperature. Violets can also be found in yards in early spring before the first mowing.

When to forage violets

The best time of year to forage for violet is early spring, when nighttime temperatures begin to rise above freezing. Once you see violet leaves unraveling from the ground it won’t be long (about a week) before the flowers are there, as well.

Since violets are found across the US and Canada, the best time to find violets can vary based on the weather conditions of that year and the general seasonality of the area. Here in the Midwest, April is a sure time to forage for violets. Violets only bloom for about 4-6 weeks, so if you are hoping to find them, you’ll want to keep an eye on the weather so you don’t miss this window.

While not as plentiful, violets also bloom in late fall when the temperatures begin to drop again.

Foraging safety tips

Foraging with kids is a fun outdoor physical family activity that can really connect you with nature, but some precautions should be taken. First, you (and your children) should always be very aware of where you are foraging for violets (or anything, really). If you are not familiar with the area, take some time to look around before you begin picking. Check for animal nests and be alert for snakes or insects that may be around your area. Also, check for poison ivy or poison oak. It’s best to find a patch of violets, then do a quick visual check of the area. Once cleared, then direct the kids to that area for foraging. Remind kids that nature is home to wildlife, and they should keep watch for dangers as well.

You should also be aware of any local rules or regulations regarding foraging or harvesting if you’re on public land or parks. Many parks have rules about taking nothing out of the park or restrictions against picking flora. Only forage in places where it’s allowed or you have express permission from the landowner.

You also need to be very cautious with your find before ever consuming something that you foraged. Double and triple-check your haul to make sure that you have accurately identified the plant and didn’t include any other plants or materials (including bugs, webs, etc.). Remove anything that is not the item you were foraging and NEVER consume anything you’re unsure about. Find more outdoor safety tips here.

Using wild violets to make color-changing simple syrup

Violet simple syrup is our favorite thing to make with our foraged violets. Not only is it delicious, but it’s so much fun for kids! The syrup changes colors based on the type of liquid you add it to! It’s a really neat hands-on science experiment for kids to learn about pH.

The violet syrup itself can range from bright purple to dark blue. When added to an acid like lemonade, the drink will turn pink. In a base like baking soda water, it will turn greenish. How fun is that?! Let me show you how to make it.

Lemonade, violet syrup, baking soda water before mixing

Lemonade with syrup added on the left and backing soda water with violet syrup added on the right.

How to make wild violet syrup

When we search for violets to make syrup, we usually aim to loosely fill a quart-sized mason jar. This gives you just the right amount of foraged violets to make a batch of color-changing simple syrup. Here’s the process:

Remove the stems of the plants from the flowers. Keep only the flowers for the syrup.
Do a quick rinse of the flowers to remove any dirt, sand, or insects.
Once rinsed, put the flowers back in the quart jar and fill it to the top with it hot distilled water.
Seal the jar and let it steep overnight.
In the morning, strain the flowers from the liquid, leaving behind beautiful violet-tinted water.
Set the mason jar filled with the violet water into a pot of water to heat it up enough so that it’s warm.
To make the syrup, mix equal parts warm violet water and sugar (1 cup water + 1 cup sugar) and stir until the super is dissolved.

Here is a video from Alexis @blackforager on how to make the syrup.

Ways to use violet syrup

You can mix the violet simple syrup into all kinds of drinks. If you add it to an acid drink (like lemonade), it’ll turn pink!

Our favorite way to use our forage wild violet simple syrup is in homemade lime water. The citrus mixed with the sweet floral of the violet syrup is so good! The resulting beautiful pink color is an added bonus. My kids love to watch the drink change color as we mix the syrup and lime water.

The simple syrup can be added to any drink of your choice. Consider adding it to tea, juice, mocktails/cocktails, sparkling water, or even just diluting it with water and adding other fresh herbs like mint or basil. The syrup would also be as delicious as a drizzle on baked goods or pancakes!

Lime water with violet syrup added

Using violet leaves

Violet flowers aren’t the only part of the plant that is usable. Young violet leaves can be used in salads, in teas, and as garnishes. The leaves, as well as the flowers, can be infused in oils for use on the skin and can be used to make balms and salves. New growth emerges from the ground rolled up like a funnel and slowly unrolls from the center of the heart, shaped like a rose.

Young violet leaves

Wild violet treats – jellies, cookies, and cakes

Making syrup isn’t the only way you can use your foraged wild violet flowers. The flowers of the violets can also be pressed or used to decorate desserts such as shortbread cookies and cakes. Here are some awesome recipes to try out!

More springtime foraging fun

Foraging violets is a fun springtime activity, but not the only one! If you’re not able to find violets or want some other springtime foraging ideas, never fear! Other spring blooms that are edible (and can be used to make similar items) are Forsythia, dandelions, and lilacs. We also have a great post on how to forage for pine tree tips and make a DIY foraged pine tree tip syrup.

There is no shortage of delicious and amazing things to make after you forage violets. So get outside and have some fun while collecting the goods!

Do you forage with your kids?

About the author

Meghan is a country living, mom of 2 boys in rural central Illinois (with a baby girl on the way). She is a Physical Therapist Assistant by trade but spends most of her time outside with her family. At home, she has large flower, herb, and vegetable gardens to tend to and 3 large dogs to play with. As a family, they enjoy hiking, camping, boating, fishing, and helping her in-laws show and raise livestock. Photography became a hobby while in isolation after her oldest son’s bone marrow transplant. It has since become a passion to capture her family’s daily life. Throughout her family’s journey with rare disease and transplant, the outdoors have been a safe space for the whole family to grow, learn, and thrive.

You can find more from Meghan online in the following locations:
Instagram: @meghangarriott
Meghan’s RWMC posts:

The post Wild Violet Foraging with Kids & Color-Changing Simple Syrup appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

Outdoor Rainy Day Activities for Kids

Creative Team — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 09:23:26 +0000

It’s raining, it’s pouring! So, now what? When it’s rainy outside, you have two options: stay inside and let your kiddos run amuck, or get outside and enjoy some outdoor rainy day activities for kids! In my opinion, this isn’t a hard one – let’s go and play in the rain! We know that most rainy day activity posts are usually about things you can do inside, but that’s not our style! There is so much fun to be had when you play outside with your kids. Today, SarahRuth Owens, Creative Team member and Georgia homeschooling mom of three is here sharing her family’s favorite outdoor rainy day activities for kids (and toddlers, too!), as well as the gear and supplies you might need to enjoy these days the most!

Fun things to do on rainy days outside

While playing outside in the rain might not sound like a blast for parents, it’s so much fun for kids! Rain makes everything feel more magical and can turn ordinary adventures into extraordinary ones! Today, I’m sharing some of our favorite screen-free rainy day activities for kids. All of these rainy day activities have been tried and tested by my crew of adventurers and are sure to get your kids excited about the rain. Because there’s no such thing as bad weather!

Best rainy day gear for kids

When engaging in rainy day play, one might ask oneself: to be wet, or not to be wet? A lot of factors play into this. Things like…how much laundry is already sitting in piles on your couch. And whether or not there are currently any crayons melted to the inside of your dryer (just me, eh?).

If you don’t care how wet they get, then just send them outside to play in whatever they want to wear. If the weather is warm and your kids aren’t sweet enough to melt, let them out to play in the puddles and engage in rainy day play outside, getting as wet as possible.

Doing outdoor rainy day activities with kids sounds good, but maybe you just don’t want soaking wet kids? If you are in the not-to-be-wet crowd, there is a great solution! Rain gear has come a long way in the past decade. It can be found in a variety of sizes, patterns, and even price points. We’ve got a huge comprehensive list of the best rain gear for kids and toddlers, if you’re in the need of new gear.

When it comes to great quality rain gear for kids, here are a few of our favorites:

Mk Nordika sells rainy day gear in a mid-point price range. It is high quality and includes adorable and cheerful rainbow stripes! They have sizes from toddler up to adult. We own this brand and it is so easy to care for. You simply wipe it down if it is muddy.
Oaki also has a great full-body rain suit that easily slips over kids’ clothing. It is lightweight and you don’t have to keep up with multiple pieces. They have toddler-sized rain suits all the up through big kids.

Safety concerns playing outside in the rain

While outdoor rainy day activities are fun, here are some safety considerations to keep in mind:

Never encourage children to play outdoors in a thunderstorm. Lightning is real and does strike. Teach children to come indoors and speak to an adult if they hear thunder and are unsure about safety.
Be certain your children have on the right shoes for their location. If they are headed on a hike, the muddy trail is different than the puddles on the pavement. Choosing the correct gear for where your child will play in the rain is important.
No swimming in storms, please. Remember when the lifeguard had everyone get out of the pool for half an hour when there was thunder? There is good reason for that as water is a conduit for electricity and lightning spreads over the water, impacting anyone in it.
If you’re near running water (streams, creeks, rivers), keep a close eye on the water level, as streams can rise very quickly in rain. You never know if it may have rained much more higher upstream, so always keep a careful eye out and stay in shallow water, away from currents.

Be sure and keep safety in the forefront of your mind during outdoor rainy day activities!

You don’t need anything special to do outdoor rainy day activities with kids

There, I said it. You don’t actually need anything special or planned or extravagant to enjoy rainy day play. You don’t need Pinterest perfect crafts or any special rain toys. The rain itself creates so many fun things outside. Rain makes everything ordinary feel different. It’s a full-body sensory experience that kids can’t get enough of!

So, what do you really need for outdoor rainy day activities for kids? A smile is your best supply!

Go for a rainy day walk

One of my boys’ favorite things to do on a rainy day is gear up, bring umbrellas, and walk to town. Would you believe that they can walk miles in the rain? Without complaining! They can, and I bet your crew can as well. This activity requires absolutely no planning or prepwork. It’s something we could do at any time, but the rain makes it extra special and novel.

Things you can try if your kiddos do begin to get the rainy day blues on your walk:

Sing songs (Singing in the Rain is always a fun tune)
Jump in puddles
Have a contest to see who can save the most worms (this means put them back in the grass and off the sidewalk)
Collect nature items
Watch water go into a sewer drain (I promise this entertains children)
Cup your hands and see who can overflow their hands with rainwater
Play “I Spy” as you walk
Wave at passerby and vehicles

Outdoor rainy day activities for kids in the woods

Are you ready to unlock expert outdoor parenting level? Go play in the woods….in the rain! Let’s do this. Honestly, rainy day play in the forest is absolutely magical. Some special things happen when you visit the wet forest and see the changes happening as the flora and fauna drink in the rain. There is so much to do while in the woods on a rainy day.

I organized a forest playgroup for kids for years and rainy days in the woods were some of our favorites! Here are some of the best and favorite rainy day outdoor activities to do in the woods from our forest school excursions:

Build a shelter – bring tarps, some twine, etc. and challenge the kids to build a dry shelter
See if you can build a fire when it is wet outside
Go on a mushroom hunt (fungi love wet conditions)
Sketch the woods in the rain
Get in the creek – hey, you’re already wet, right? (be careful and cognizant of rising water)
Play rainy day hide and seek
Bring a ruler and a clear glass or cup and measure the rainfall during your time in the woods

Outdoor rainy day activities for kids that use supplies

Ok, so you tried the rainy day activities without supplies (or maybe you didn’t…that’s ok, we won’t tell), but maybe you want to enjoy some structured organized fun like crafts and games. That’s great! I’ve got you covered!

Here are some fun outdoor rainy day games, crafts, and activities for kids and what supplies you need:

Rainy day bike ride

Clearly, you need your bikes and helmets. My sons like to have bike gloves because in the rain, your hands tend to rub the handlebars more. Try sloshing through puddles! We also like to have a manual bike pump on one of our bikes, and don’t forget to bring water!

Water-gun fight

This one is so much fun during Summer showers. Each person gets a water gun and you can go to town. I suggest having buckets of water on hand, or even a large rubber maid tub filled with water for refills.

Water balloon fight

Yep, let’s do this water thing all the way! About 100 balloons usually works for our crew of 5. We like to prefill and place them in the fridge in Summer. This means that humid, warm weather won’t be an issue! Swimsuits are smart gear to have on during this activity. Also, be certain to clean up any broken balloon bits; they don’t decompose.

Water table fun

You can create a simple water table at a mud kitchen, or even just at a table, by providing your kiddos with scoops, spoons, a colander, shovels, bowls, and cups. Sometimes simple is best.

Bob for fruit

This one is so much fun in the rain. I cannot explain it, it simply is! Add some apples, peaches, or whatever round fruit is in season, to a big bowl or rubber maid container filled with drinkable water. Now bob!

Paint with mud

All you need is some mud, a few paintbrushes and something to paint! This could be anything from a piece of paper or cardboard to your driveway. It doesn’t have to be fancy. If you want more ways to play with mud, check out this post with lots of fun and creative Mud Activities for Kids.

Boat races

Have your kids find natural materials (sticks, leaves, pinecones, etc.) and make a small boat. Then race them down the run-off water in the street or down a stream. This is a great way to also teach kids about engineering and what floats (and doesn’t).

What are your favorite outdoor rainy day activities?

We want to see you and your kids having fun doing rainy day play. Use the hashtag #runwildmychild for a chance to be featured on our Instagram account!

About the author

SarahRuth is a homeschooling mother of three boys. She was raised in cities across the East coast, but now resides in the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia where her husband grew up. Passionate about inspiring others to shift from the status quo of Western indoor life, she launched a local Free Forest School chapter in 2017. Her family clocked over 2k hours outdoors in 2019 and believes that outside time as a family is vital to a joy-filled life. She collects books, stray children, and as much coffee as her body will permit. When not foraging, chasing waterfalls, or camping with her crew, you can find SarahRuth crossing the globe from her laptop, teaching English full time online! She has two bachelor’s degrees in Education and is passionate about teaching children to love learning through outdoor adventures.

You can find more from SarahRuth in the following online locations:
Instagram: @kindle_togetherness
RWMC posts: SarahRuth

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National Let’s Laugh Day Done the Nature Way

Creative Team — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 15:37:51 +0000

To all the jokesters, punny people, pranksters, and lovers of laughter…your day is here! This is snow joke! There really is a day 100% devoted to enhancing the laughter in this world and this post is all about sharing laughter with others! Run Wild My Child is all about getting families outside, so together let’s celebrate National Let’s Laugh Day the nature way.

{This post contains affiliate links.}

National Let’s Laugh Day

What does it mean to celebrate Let’s Laugh Day the nature way? It means I’ve focused my brainstorming powers on finding the best ways to get your family chuckling, chortling, giggling, guffawing, loling, and laughing outside together. Everything in this post has an outdoor or nature spin on it. That’s right, the activities, jokes, puns, and books all are related to the great outdoors in some way.

You didn’t think I forgot about making you laugh though, did you? While this post may be geared toward helping you find ways to bring laughter into your outdoor adventures, there are specific puns and jokes added especially for your reading pleasure.

In laughter, the ‘L’ comes first,
and the rest of the letters come ‘aughter’ it.

Photo credit: Katie Fox @familyinwanderland

The benefits of laughter

Before you dive into the chuckle-filled content below, take a moment to browse through the amazing benefits of laughter. Seriously, whoever coined the adage, laughter is the best medicine, was really onto something.

1. Laughter stimulates organs

As you laugh, you naturally bring more oxygen into your body. This increased oxygen supply stimulates vital organs and increases the endorphins sent to your brain.

2. Laughing relieves stress

Beleave it or not (this is not a joke, though the nature pun is chuckle-worthy), laughter lowers your stress levels. As you laugh, your heart rate increases and as the laughter subsides, your heart rate decreases. The result is a relaxed and calm feeling. Plus, a lot happens with the endorphins and cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in your body.

3. Laughter improves immunity

Positive thoughts, such as those that cause fits of laughter, are proven to help lower stress responses in our bodies. Since stress is actually linked to lower immunity, laughter helps lower stress and boost immunity.

4. Laughing increases personal satisfaction and decreases pain

Whenever we face a difficult situation, chuckling at ourselves or laughing at what is happening can actually make the situation better. On the flip side, laughter has the ability to help our body create its own natural painkiller. So, next time you fracture a rib, just laugh until it doesn’t hurt anymore. (This last part was a joke. Don’t do that. It will hurt A LOT!)

5. Laughter strengthens relationships with others

That’s right! When we laugh with friends, families, coworkers, and even strangers, we feel more connected to them. In turn, laughter enables us to form closer relationships with those we laugh with. And this is really what National Let’s Laugh Day is all about; laughing together and creating lasting bonds with those we love.

Photo credit: Carolyn @the.barefoot.babies

10 outdoor activities to bring out the laughter

One of the best ways to induce fits of laughter is through play and spending time together as a family. Here are ten simple ways to get your whole family holding their stomachs and laughing until it hurts while celebrating Let’s Laugh Day the nature way.

1. Random acts of silliness

While outside or while doing routine activities, randomly begin to act silly! Skip, speak in a goofy voice, play tickle chase, jump around like a frog, roar like a lion, pretend to be a robot, or follow your child’s lead and join in on their imaginative play. Your kids will be surprised and burst out laughing! And they’ll surely follow suit, followed by even more laughter from all.

2. Outdoor dance party

Turn on a family favorite, a classic dance song, or something totally obscure and then bust out your best and silliest dance moves. Even if goofy dancing, isn’t your thing try branching out (see what I did there?) of your comfort zone and dance like no one is watching!

3. Play “make a story” while passing a ball

This game is better for older kids, but with help, younger ones can absolutely play along too. The goal is to create a silly story together as a family! The person beginning the game (or whoever is holding the ball first) creates a really silly title, then passes the ball to someone else, who then begins the story. The game continues in this fashion; whoever is holding the ball adds to the story. You can add one word, or several sentences.

Pro Tip: when the ball is passed to you, make sure to throw in something your family finds hilarious into the story.

4. Read silly books together outside

Grab a blanket, cuddle up somewhere outside, and read a hillarious book together. Books have a magical way of tapping into our emotions and make for great bonding moments! Below is a list of 12 funny nature-focused children’s books to get you started.

5. Play “the floor is lava”

Create a fun obstacle course in your yard or local park. Use what you have on hand (large pieces of cardboard, chairs, playground equipment, park benches, logs, etc.) and make sure to play along with your children! Don’t forget, you can also just randomly yell “the floor is lava” to begin the game and watch as every scrambles for something to stand on. Laugh together as you all figure out how to survive, epically fall into the lava, or find hilarious new ways to use, balance, and be outside without touching the ground.

Photo credit: Kyana Miner @blackadventuremom

6. Harness your inner child

Remember elementary school? What were your favorite games? Two easy and fun games to play with your kids are Simon Says and Red Light, Green Light. Make them silly on purpose! For instance, you can say Simon Says put your finger in your nose or make fart noises (I give you permission to use this. I know my kids would be giggling.) Or in Red Light, Green Light, pretend you can’t remember the color green and keep saying words that sound like green. The sillier you are, the more laugh-out-loud fun you’ll have together.

7. Learn a new skill together

Maybe learn to juggle together or try your hand (I mean waist) at hula hooping. Be silly. Keep trying – cactus makes perfect, right? Fail epically and laugh at yourself. Show your children that laughter is the best medicine.

8. Watch the clouds

Find images in the clouds and make up silly stories to go along with them. Maybe you will also get lucky and see silly images too. No clouds? Don’t worry, this same activity can be done with all sorts of nature items. Go on a walk through your neighborhood or your favorite hiking trail. Find images in tree bark, tree trunk knots, boulders, tree branches, cracks in the mud, patches of grass, and more. Don’t forget to get everyone laughing will a ridiculous story about how that cloud turtle lost it’s shell and thought it was a hermit crab.

9. Roll down a hill

If you haven’t rolled down a hill as an adult, you are seriously missing out. Your body may ache more than it did when you embarked on this adventure as a child, but the aches and pains are totally worth the laughs and memories you will share with your children.

10. Outdoor charades

This is the same game as the indoor version, only done outside. Be over the top as you act out your word and don’t forget to laugh at yourself when you are struggling. Show your kids that it is okay to be awful at something and still have fun!

Photo credit: Nichole Holze @coleyraeh

25+ nature jokes and puns to share with your kids

Jokes are a sure-fire way to get people chuckling. Sometimes the laughter is because a joke was truly funny, and other times the laughter resembles a groan. This type of groan-laughter is perfect! It means the jokes you are sharing are so funny, laughter isn’t even possible. Don’t worry though, the jokes and puns below were specially curated for celebrating National Let’s Laugh Day the nature way. They are guaranteed to induce the true form of laughter and help form lasting memories and bonds between your family members.

Photo credit: @sara_mccarty

Hilarious nature jokes for kids

How do you cut a wave in half?
Use a sea saw

Why is the mushroom always invited to parties?
Because he’s a fungi

Why did the worm cross the ruler?
To become an inchworm

Why is grass so dangerous?
Because it’s full of blades

What kind of shorts do clouds wear?
Thunderwear

What is a tree’s least favorite month?
Sep-TIMBER

What type of tree fits in your hand?
A palm tree

What did the beaver say to the tree?
It’s been nice gnawing you

What kind of flower grows on your face?
Tulips

What did the limestone say to the geologist?
Don’t take me for granite

What did one volcano say to the other?
I lava you

What do you call a snowman in July?
A puddle

What do you call a bear without any teeth?
A gummy bear

What’s a tornado’s favorite game?
Twister

Why can’t pine trees sew?
They always drop their needles

What type of songs do the planets sing?
Nep-tunes!

What do you call an alligator in a vest?
An investigator!

What’s brown and sticky?
A stick

Photo credit: Chelsea Furlong @dimples.and.the.blonde

Inspirational nature-inspired puns

I lake you a lot!

I lava you!

Beleaf in yourself!

I lichen you very moss!

Lettuce do our best!

You are tree-mendous!

I fernly beleaf in you!

I love you a lily more each day!

We make a prickly pear!

12 hilarious children’s books that are sure to make your whole family laugh

Photo credit: @umaisreading

Finally (Pine-ally)…

Now you are prepared! You have the knowledge and the skills to embark on these shenanigans with your family. I’ll leaf you with these famous words of punable wisdom…

May the forest be with you!
Leaf long and prosper!

I can’t think of any more nature puns. Canoe?

About the author

Katie lives in a tiny home on wheels and travels full-time with her two mostly wild children, tech-minded partner, two well-traveled pups, and adopted pet snail. As they wander the North American continent, Katie explores as much as possible, with a particular fondness for the adventures her family enjoys in state and national parks. When not trekking through the outdoors, Katie enjoys baking, homeschooling, consuming mochas from local coffee shops across the continent, practicing her photography skills, and soaking up as much knowledge as she can.

As an advocate for families exploring the great outdoors, Katie co-founded a Hike it Baby branch in her hometown in Northern California and tries to encourage families to get outside whenever possible. Katie has a Master’s degree in human development from the University of Missouri, Columbia, but her passion is really history and humanities (which is coincidentally what her Bachelor’s degrees are in). She currently volunteers on the Hike it Baby National team as a contributing blogger.

You can find more from Katie online in the following locations:
Instagram: @familyinwanderland
Website: www.familyinwanderland.com
Facebook: @familyinwanderland
RWMC posts: Katie Fox

The post National Let’s Laugh Day Done the Nature Way appeared first on RUN WILD MY CHILD.

Tips For Capturing Puddle Jumping Pictures

Sara — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 18:09:01 +0000

April is here and that means rain showers! Part of being a kid is getting to experience the joy of jumping in puddles! There aren’t too many kids that can resist a good messy puddle! We want to give you permission to let your kids get messy, muddy and have fun! And while they’re enjoying all the stomping and splashing, your mission is to capture some photos of all that puddlicious joy! Today, Brandi Rondinelli, professional photographer and mom of 2, is here sharing 5 tips for capturing awesome puddle jumping pictures of your kids. These tips are great and applicable whether you’re using a fancy DSLR or the camera on your phone. So get ready and let’s jump in!

Splash season

It’s that time of the year!!! Rain, more rain and PUDDLES!! I don’t know about you, but I love puddle jumping season (I mean, spring). We get a ton of rain in the spring and watching my kids’ faces fill with joy while they splash in every puddle they see is priceless! Not to mention, it keeps them busy outside for at least an hour. Sure, they get wet and messy, but that’s actually good for them! Letting your kids get dirty has proven health benefits.

As parents, we see mud and only see a mess. But to children, mud is an abundant and attractive medium for creation, exploration and adventure. Mud is fun! Playing with mud engages all the senses, encourages creativity and creates long-lasting childhood memories. Mud play has also been associated with a range of benefits including increased happiness, improved well-being, stronger immunity and a connection with nature.

Benefits of getting dirty

Recent research has shown that dirt contains microscopic bacteria called Mycobacterium Vaccae which stimulates the immune system and increases the levels of serotonin in our brains, an endorphin that soothes, calms, and helps us to relax. Science also shows that today’s sanitized world is actually contributing to increased levels of childhood allergies and asthma. Exposure to dirt and germs works to prime a child’s immune system to prevent allergies. Yes, mud can actually improve your child’s physical and mental health!

Healthy immune systems – Dirt is filled with all sorts of healthy microbes, and when kids are exposed to them it strengthens their immune systems which helps to prevent chronic conditions like asthma, allergies, diabetes and obesity.
Happiness – When kids spend time outside they are less stressed, anxious and depressed. In fact, within minutes of being outside around nature kids start feeling relaxed.
Active – Outdoor play, with all it’s dirt and mud, keeps kids moving. It’s been shown that kids run, climb and jump outside much more than they do inside, even compared to indoor sports. All this movement helps kids maintain a healthier body weight which prevent chronic health issues like diabetes.
Healthy sensory systems – As kids spend more and more time indoors, sensory processing issues are skyrocketing. Many children are developing over or under-sensitive senses. When kids go outside all of their senses are stimulated. There’s so much for them to see, touch, smell and hear outdoors which helps their brain grow and make connections.
Smarts – Kids that play outside and get dirty are better at solving problems and are more creative too. Time outside not only improves children’s memory, concentration and attention span it also helps them develop emotional and social intelligence.

Let them splash

So often kids are asked to refrain from getting wet and muddy. Give them the gift of freedom to explore and get as messy as they want for a day. Dress them in their rain boots and whatever else you don’t care getting wet (plenty of layers if it’s still cold) and encourage them to splash! They’ll be so excited about the opportunity and will remember this for a lifetime. If you’re in need of recommendations on good rain gear, here’s our favorite rain gear for outdoorsy kids.

5 tips for capturing perfect puddle jumping pictures

Now that you know how important and beneficial it is to let your kids get dirty, it’s time to capture the fun! While they’re jumping and splashing away, I want to be sure to preserve those sweet smiles and laughs. So, today I’m sharing 5 tips for capturing awesome puddle jumping photos of your kids that you can implement whether you’re shooting with a phone or a camera.

1. Mix up your perspective

Getting low to the ground and closer to the puddle lets the puddle be the focus of your attention. This is perfect for catching those wowing puddle shots of water splashing up and around your kids feet. But be sure to mix it up a bit so they don’t all look the same. Get some lower shots, some far away full-framed shots and some close-up shots. Get creative by adding a pop of color, umbrella, flowers, a friend or sibling, dissolved sidewalk chalk, etc. Or mix up the times you shoot your puddle splashing photos – morning, dreary mid-day, at golden hour (1 hour prior to sunset), etc.

2. Don’t be afraid to get wet

Getting close up puddle jumping pictures might result in a little (or a big) splash coming your way. For the most part, that’s ok! Be sure to keep a little towel on hand or put a plastic bag over your camera to protect it. I promise the up-close shots will be worth all the mud in your hair and on your face! (Remember, it’s good for you, too!)

3. Nail your settings

In order to get the best and sharpest puddle jumping pictures, if you are using a DSLR, make sure your shutter speed is high and your aperture (f-stop) is not too shallow. The high shutter speed (anything above 250) will help you capture those fast-moving water droplets. That that deeper aperture (f-stop at or above f/3.2) will ensure everything is in focus, especially when shooting up-close shots.

If you are using a cell phone, the more light you can have, the better. Try pressing and holding while taking a picture, this will do a continuous shoot capturing more pictures faster. Hopefully, this will give you a nice still water shot.

4. Have fun!!

Careful!!!! Mud play and puddle jumping may cause a tremendous amount of fun and laughter, try at your own risk! Let those kids get as messy and wet as they can. Nothing a bath/shower can’t fix.

Want to get extra crazy and give them a memory they’ll never forget…jump in with them!!! Don’t worry about having the right gear! Barefoot or rain boots, rain suit or shorts, it doesn’t matter, just have fun!

5. Enhance colors and details in post-editing

Editing your puddle jumping pictures will take them from good to GREAT! Editing doesn’t have to be hard or take a lot of time or skill. It can be done with iPhone pictures or photos taken on your DSLR.

If you don’t already, download the Lightroom app on your phone (it’s free!). When editing in Lightroom, turn up that clarity! Play around with the other settings to see what you like best. I usually bump up my shadows a little to make the moodier. I tone down the highlights to get rid of overexposed spots. Also, I turn up the dehazer slider and lower the black point a tad. You could also add contrast, sharpen and saturate to make the image exactly how you want it!

If you want tones like the pictures in this post, check out my Lightroom mobile Presets.

Get shooting!

I hope that helps inspire you to get outside with your kids while capturing some awesome puddle jumping pictures this spring! Let me know if you have any questions!

More photography resources

If you’re interested in more photography resources, download our FREE guide with our best tips and tricks for taking better photos of your kids’ outdoor adventures with the camera on your PHONE! From creative composition tips to our favorite editing apps, this guide includes everything you need to know to make the most out of the camera in your pocket!

Do you love capturing puddle jumping pictures?

About the author

Brandi Rondinelli. I’m a wife, published photographer & mother of two little wolfs. We are a homesteading family & love everything about the outdoors. We have traveled all around Wisconsin and hiked 21 state parks in just 2 years. From raising chickens, kids, having a full garden & a photography business, you could say we stay busy but we always have time for an adventure and new memories.

You can find me online in the following locations:
Instagram: @soulshinephotographer
Client work: @motherhenshomestead
Website: www.soulshinephotographer.com
Facebook: @soulshinephotographer

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