Sunflowers And Kids...

Susan Nelson Hopkins

Sunflowers have held a special attraction for kids for generations... for ever. It's hard to imagine there ever being a time when this magic between child and sunflower didn't exist.

Kids are so little, and most sunflowers are so big. It's easy to imagine playing hide-and-seek inside a forest of giants' legs.

By summer's end, most kids have memories bursting with endless adventures, just like those sunflower faces bursting with seeded energy.

Munching on those sunflower seeds during cold fall and winter months triggers aroma memories. Rich dirt and green plants and summer rains leap into the fertile imaginations of kids everywhere... and they recall playing games amongst gentle giants' legs with their summer friends.

Just when moms and dads and kids have just about had their fill of winter games and activities, seed catalogs come to the rescue! Dreams of sunshine and spring fragrances warm their parents' hearts. But kids remember cool grass tickling dirty toes, and running through sprinklers, and searching for whales in summer clouds...

But the sunflower seed pages see the most use, at least from the peanut-butter-and-jelly crowd. Are the sticky smudges around the super tall sunflower varieties foretelling a sibling contest for a tallest-ever record in the making?

What about a sunflower fort with walls that reach for the sky, where kids can plan all kinds of interesting things... and only friendly sunflower faces are allowed to watch.

Another fun idea is a secret garden hidden inside a patch of giant sunflowers. Of course it would have a secret entry, and once inside... the magic starts.

Sunflowers have once again fueled imaginations... as they always will!