How to Create a Garden for Adults and Children with Developmental Delays

For adults or children with special developmental needs, a garden can be a place of magic. A garden is where beautiful flowers grown from tiny seeds, where the scenery changes from week to week, and where there is always a job to do. A garden is a place where perseverance, patience and self-esteem can develop, and where physical and occupational therapy exercises can be worked in seamlessly.

To get the most out of a garden and make it safe for developmentally delayed gardeners, a few adjustments should be made on the typical layout. For example, rock or brick paths can be a tripping hazard. Make the garden easy to navigate by installing gravel or mulch walkways instead. Keep the paths cleared of debris and tree roots.

Water hoses are another common tripping hazard. Instead of trying to keep hoses organized and out of the way, watering cans are often a better choice in a developmental delay-friendly garden.

Misplaced equipment and tools can be a problem for many gardeners. Help keep the clutter at a minimum and make organization easy by placing sheds or tool barrels in convenient locations. When choosing tools, select ones that will be the easiest for the gardener to use. Look for appropriately sized and weighted equipment. Trying to make do with tools that are too large or too small increases the chance of injury. If coordination is a problem, provide hoes, racks and shovels with padded handles.

When deciding on plants for the developmentally delayed child or adult to care for, be sure to include several that produce results quickly. An early harvest or bloom will encourage involvement and interest. In addition, include a few plants that are "sure things" and easy to grow. Let each gardener select one or two plants, even if they are completely impractical choices.

If the gardener has special needs, be sure to take that into consideration when selecting plants. Plants with distinct colors are good choices for people with visual impairments. If gross motor functioning is impaired, consider plants that do well in containers or raised beds.

Be sure to include plants that the gardener can use. Vegetables, fruit and berries from the garden can be used in meal preparation. Flowers, seeds and foliage can be harvested and used in crafts.

With planning and patience, you can create an environment that makes gardening accessible to people with developmental delays. Although it may require a large upfront investment in time and money, a garden, like the skills it promotes, can last a lifetime.