February is the month when parents all over the country breathe a collective sigh of relief - the kids are back at school.

The endless summer holidays of trying to keep the kids entertained and away from the TV and computer are over.

Now you only have to worry about finding exciting and engaging activities for the afternoons and weekends!
Well fear not, we have an activity which will provide a healthy diversion from the television for your children, in any weather and at any time of the year.

Gardening - or more specifically - painting and planting pots.
And, with a little help from an adult, even pre-school children can enjoy it.

All you need is a good supply of 10cm diameter terracotta pots, found at your local garden centre, and some paints which won't wash off.
"Test pot paints are perfect for this," says Tod Palenski of Awapuni Nurseries.
"Water based house paint will withstand the outside weather, is very cheap, and most of all, will wash off the clothes of any young budding Picasso!"

Plus it puts a seal on the pot. This means the pot won't dry out as much and, as a consequence, neither will the soil.
So get some newspaper out, put your kids in some old clothes and encourage the painting of some mini masterpieces.

Once the pots have had time to dry, fill them up to the top with potting mix. Tod recommends using a top quality potting mix with a slow release fertiliser, which can also be found at your local garden centre.
A slow release fertiliser will feed your pots for up to four months and will ensure the best growth possible for your children's plants.

Now they need to choose what to plant.

For brave parents willing to go the extra mile, take your kids on a trip to the supermarket.

Awapuni Nurseries have developed a revolutionary new seedling range that is perfect for new gardeners. The Pop'n'Grow range is available at supermarkets, the Warehouse, Kmart and Bunnings stores and includes over 120 different perennials, herbs, flowers and vegetables.

Plenty of options for your children to choose from and, unlike other plants, Pop'n'Grow seedlings can be unwrapped, separated and prepared for the soil without disturbing or breaking the roots. They are child's play to plant and grow!

To entertain your kids long after the pot is planted, Tod recommends growing a swan plant.
"Children love insects and a swan plant will provide ongoing interest by attracting butterflies to the garden."
"Marigolds and pansy jolly jokers are also perfect for kids. They are bright, colourful and easy to grow," says Tod.

Simply create a hole in the potting mix with your finger and plant your plant.

If you're keen to promote an interest in healthy food, why not try growing lettuces, beans and peas?
Either plant one lettuce per pot, or help your child to plant several lettuces in a large bucket-sized tub.

Marigolds create a brilliant contrast to the lettuces when planted around the edge of the tub.
Or try growing dwarf beans. They are ideal for small gardeners as they don't need to be staked and can be reached easily for picking.

Tell your children the story of Jack and the beanstalk, plant three or four beans in a pot, and watch your children's imaginations and the plants grow.

Tod also recommends growing sugar snap peas.
"Soak the seeds over night in water to speed up the germination process, plant several in a pot, and 8-10 weeks later the kids will be able to eat them straight off the vine!"

For children who want to experiment further with sowing seeds, Tod suggests trying alyssum, lobelia, pansies or dwarf/minature (teddy bears) sunflowers. Simply plant half a teaspoon of seeds in your pot and cover with soil.

Lastly, to ensure seeds achieve the best results, and kids are kept busy as long as possible, Tod recommends creating a mini glass house.
"Cut the top off a lemonade bottle, about where the sides are flat. Take the label off, punch some holes in it, and turn it upside down over the pot.
"And don't forget to water!"