Are plants actually safe around children?
Honest question, have you ever wondered "if I should even have plants around my child?”
Many parents worry that plants and children simply don’t mix. I surely felt this way after hearing all the plant and children horror stories in my third trimester before having my first baby. However, here’s the reassuring truth: You don’t need to remove all plants to keep children safe.
Most issues come from just a small list of toxic plants, not from plants as a whole. Many beautiful, resilient plants are non-toxic and completely safe for homes, classrooms, and play spaces.
A few of my personal child-safe favourites:
Spider plant (fun sensory plant)
Areca palm (fun sensory plant)
Prayer plant (perfect to observe colours and other details)
Boston fern (fun sensory plant and resilient)
The snake plant (beyond resilient)
With these plants, you don't have to worry about the toxic sap that can cause issues with your child's health. I would also consider herbs for younger children between 9 months and 18 months, where they are prone to putting things in their mouths; herbs are safe even if ingested.
A simple place to start this week: Choose one non-toxic plant and place it where your child can see it, but not pull on it yet. Let it become familiar before it becomes interactive. Depending on the age, you can give the child the opportunity to touch, smell and see the plant up close. Show your child how you interact with the plant, and they honestly mirror what you do.
There isn't such a thing as kids being too young to have their own houseplant collection.
Also, I've created a Nature-Based Calming Toolkit with over 100+ educational and fun calming activities (Instant Download) that you can print right at home and use over and over again. It contains plant-related activities such as fill-in-the-blanks, labyrinths, letter writing, colouring and much more. This can inspire your children to unwind after a long day of preschool/school and connect with nature differently.
Remember, you don’t need perfection. Just thoughtful choices.
Cheers,
Your Wellness & Houseplant Friend,
Priscille