(2 minute read)

It’s that time of year again in the UK - the sun is making its way back through the gray of winter and paying us more than a kindly visit. April is also ‘Stress Awareness Month’, and with increasing links between growing produce and mental well-being, we think it's a good time to get out in the garden or grow some yummy things on your windowsill with your kids. It’s more than just a fun activity—it’s a little bit of everyday magic.

They’ll learn that good things take time, that plants need care (and the occasional pep talk), and that tiny actions—like watering a seed—can lead to big results. Watching something grow because they nurtured it? That’s some powerful confidence-building.

When our team was discussing the next steps for Adventurous Eating, it felt natural for us to introduce ‘the growing game’, where kids get to see the part before the food arrives on their plate. In the growing game, kids encourage their monster to plant and water seeds until they grow big enough for harvesting. Once harvested, the seeds are prepped to be fed to our hungry monster Bub!

In the real world, growing fruit and veg connects kids to where food actually comes from—and it might just turn your picky eater into a proud produce snacker. It also serves as an introduction to many early science topics. It is a hands-on way to learn about seasons, life cycles, and ecosystems without even really trying.

More than anything, gardening is about making memories. We asked some of our monsters here at Teach Your Monster HQ, and they certainly had some fond memories of growing plants as kids, including one 1st prize-winning daffodil grower (in 1980)! 

One of our game developers shared this memory: 

“I won the tallest sunflower competition, which was grown in my grandad's back garden. We had a photo in Thornbury's local paper with me on his shoulders next to the flower to demonstrate its AWESOME HEIGHT. My memory is hazy, but I strongly suspect that my grandad did all the work here. As a result, I won a bird table, which is exactly what every 7-year-old wants, if you ask me.”

Another shared a memory of growing cress in an empty eggshell with a face. Well, we thought this was an absolutely fabulous idea, so we came up with our own monster version: Grow your own Cress Monster! 

Cress is super easy, quick to grow and delicious in a sandwich, making it a rewarding growing experience to have with your kids. All you need is some cress seeds, an egg, some cotton wool and scissors. The cress should sprout within 7 days and be ready to harvest in just a few weeks! 

Download your ‘Grow your own Cress Monster’ instructions here.