Dear Friends,

There is something magical about the time we spend with our families, especially when we are working on a project together, and right now is the perfect time to teach our children about the wonders of nature in your own backyard.

Whether you choose to visit your local garden center or big box retailer, seeds, flowering plants and herbs are lining the shelves, ready for you to begin. This month, we hope you take a moment to glean ideas on starting your own garden project with your children and help them cultivate a lifelong enjoyment of gardening.

Offering a chance to create memories filled with the earthy scent of digging in the dirt while preparing your garden, the joy of planting a packet of seeds or the fledgling young plants, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with their tender care as your children watch them grow, you give them an up close look at the cycle of life. “Dig This: 10 Big Benefits of Gardening with Kids” is an excellent reminder of all that working together brings to the family.

Growing up, there was always a feeling of excitement as we prepared to work in the garden together on a Saturday, picking mint and basil or pulling weeds, and “Four Fantastic Gardening Mini-Projects to Do with Your Kids” makes it easy to get started, no matter the size of your garden or the age of your little ones.

Of course, this time of year isn’t complete without the task of spring cleaning, and “Get Your Green Clean On: 19 Easy and Eco-friendly Tips,” gives the whole family a chance to get in on the action. After reading this article, you’ll be a pro at motivating your family to help tackle the chore, and we guarantee it will be mixed with plenty of humor.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Parent Magazine!

Best,

Dr. Barbara C. Holley
Editor, Parent Magazines

Dr. Barbara C. Holley

We also want to recognize you – our readers! Your calls, emails and social media messages have given us great feedback. We hope you will continue to let us know what you want to read and see. Be sure to visit our Facebook page @StJohnsParentMagazine, and after liking/following, be sure to share our digital guides and stories with your friends and family.

Stephanie Robinson (Business Manager), Debbie Trask (Account Executive – Flagler and St. Johns Counties), Barbara Holley (Editor), Howard Holley (Publisher), Jeanne Coates (Managing Editor) and Gabrielle Gonzalez (Account Executive – Volusia County)

We also want to recognize you – our readers! Your calls, emails and social media messages have given us great feedback. We hope you will continue to let us know what you want to read and see. Be sure to visit our Facebook page @StJohnsParentMagazine, and after liking/following, be sure to share our digital guides and stories with your friends and family.

Look for our Annual Health and Wellness issue this summer, available in racks throughout the community and on our website at ParentMagazineFlorida.com and app (St. Johns Parent). If you subscribe as a Parent Digital Subscriber, you will receive a link when it is available, a Weekly Things To Do eNewsletter and a Monthly Flagler Parent eNewsletter. It is the best way to make sure you do not miss anything!

In this issue, we are celebrating Moms and bringing you ideas for a fun-filled and productive summer.

We are honored to be able to give you this publication, and we hope May brings you sunshine and flowers!