If you want to plant the seeds for learning about gardening and healthy cooking in your kids, new programs at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix can help you do just that.

The museum’s Children’s Garden and KIDchen programs will offer nutrition and healthy food education to children from an early age through activities that teach them how to grow and cook fresh produce. The museum will offer projects, exhibits and programs for young children and their families while teaching parents and caregivers about child development and parenting techniques.

In the 15 to 20-minute classes in the garden, children will learn about various fruits, vegetables and plants, the life cycles of a seed, the process of maintaining a garden, what plants need to grow and how foods go from farms to tables. Children can take part in guided play through the classes or experiment in the garden independently. The garden program will start when the weather cools off, possibly in October.

Produce that is harvested in the garden will be used in the KIDchen, where guided nutrition and cooking classes will teach youths to make healthy choices as they explore new foods and preparation methods. During 20 to 60-minute classes, children will learn how to follow recipes, use various kitchen tools, clean, chop, prepare vegetables and make healthy, tasty snacks. The KIDchen classes will start sometime after Labor Day, Sept. 6.

To learn more, visit https://childrensmuseumofphoenix.org.