NORMALLY about this time of the year, this column would be suggesting what you might get the grandchildren for Christmas.
In the past we’ve talked about getting them gifts for gardening, items that can be useful in starting their own garden, totally different to the usual toys that so often break after just a few weeks’ playtime.
Garden gifts are still appropriate, be they for any age, a plastic shovel or rake, watering can or seeds or plants if they have a plot of their own.
Picking up the Local Ipswich News a few weeks ago, I read a story about gifts for kids with special needs. It was a very interesting article.
I must confess that I’d never really thought about what to buy for a disabled child, and trying to tie this in with this gardening column made me think differently about what gifts these children would like to discover, and I say discover because some children are blind and may not be able to see their gift, but rather touch and feel the item given to them.
Grandparents have a rather unique responsibility to give them something they can treasure. Something that they can truly use.
Depending on their abilities and age, a watering can or frog gloves, something simple that enables them to help out in the garden.
Every disabled kid is different and has different needs and it would be beholden on the grandparents to think of a gift that would suit their needs. Whatever their age.
Remember that a disability can be intellectual as well as physical, or can be both, so for the parents and grandparents, the time spent with them is terribly important to their welfare. The juggling act that parents have to accomplish, sometimes for a lifetime, can be very trying on the family situation.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (July 2024) there were 5.5 million Australians that have a disability, a staggering number, and a lot are children of various ages.
So, although we haven’t spoken much about gardening per se, in this column today maybe on reading this you may have a different appreciation for those who have a disability.
Today, 190 Lazy Gardener columns have been written to date.
And as stated previously, these are not wholly about gardening, but about food, growing things, about trees and new developments, things you may not know about, or have even heard about.
But these stories will always have a gardening or food theme, and hopefully always be interesting.
It’s all about raising awareness
The Lazy Gardener wishes you all a very happy Christmas and a safe new year.
Till next time.
