Spring is here, and now’s the perfect time to start planning a garden with the kids. Optimally, your garden will be outside, but even those with limited outdoor space can enjoy the benefits by being creative with indoor and patio space. There are so many benefits to gardening with kids; here are our top three.
- It involves all the senses
There are a lot of things kids can experience in the virtual world through sight and sound. However, gardening involves the senses in ways that a screen never can. There’s nothing better than the smell and feel of dirt, the sound of a sprinkler or the wind gently blowing through the plants, the pleasure of watching sprouting seeds, or the taste of a just ripe vegetable or fruit. Plus, spending time in nature has been linked to lower stress, improved mental health, improved cognitive ability, and the improved ability to concentrate and pay attention. Nature is simply good for us. - It encourages healthy eating
Kids are notorious for being picky eaters. When you have a group of them, all who like different things, it can be a real challenge to plan meals that are healthy and will actually be eaten. When kids are involved in growing the food they eat, they become more invested in eating healthy and trying new foods. The garden to table method helps instill a lifelong love of healthy options and also teaches kids about the benefits of organic eating, how to lower the carbon footprint of meals, and how to care for the land so it is able to provide for us. - It provides learning opportunities
Gardening has endless lessons for kids. Science helps them understand why plants need light and water and what happens when they don’t get enough or get too much. Math helps them decide how far apart to plant and when to water. The planting cycle teaches methodology and cause and effect. The work of gardening improves fine motor skills. Working together teaches responsibility, cooperation and communication. And all of this while kids are doing something they love. That’s the kind of learning that sticks and sparks curiosity.
Gardening is a great activity to do with kids of all ages and at different levels of development. Every child can be involved in a meaningful way and there’s nothing better than the pride on their face when they literally see the fruits of their labor.
