Gardening and Kids

Kids love to grow things. Think back to when you were in grade school bringing a bean to school and watching it grow. It’s made you so proud, watering it and knowing that YOU were the reason it grew so big and beautiful. Things haven’t changed, our kids couldn’t wait to bring home their bean plant, or the flowers they grew for mom for mothers day. Children can learn a lot from gardening, from how the enviroment, weather and soil changes effect plants to what types of plants you can grow in different climates and soil types.

Here are some of the benefits that gardening can provide your children with:

1.  The Science Aspect

In planting, children are indirectly taught the wonders of science like the plant’s life cycle and how human’s intervention can break or make the environment.  They can have a first hand experience on the miracle of life through a seed.  This would definitely be a new and enjoyable experience for the kids.

2.  The Life Cycle

Watching a seed grow into a tree is just as wondrous as the conception to birth and growth of a child.  In time, kids will learn to love their plants and appreciate the life in them. Gardening could actually help simulate how life should be treated — it should be with care. The necessities to live will be emphasized to kids with the help of gardening – water, sunlight, air, soil. Those necessities could easily be corresponded to human necessities, i.e., water, shelter, air, food.  By simply weeding out, one could educate how bad influences should be avoided to be able to live life smoothly.

3.  Gardening is Relaxing

Studies show that gardening can reduce stress because of its calming effect. This is applicable to any age group.  More so, it stimulates all the five senses.  Believe it or not, gardening may be used as therapy to children who have been abused or those who are members of broken homes.  It helps build one’s self-esteem.

4.  Family Time

You can forget about your stressful work life for a while be soothed by the lovely ambience in the garden.  You can play and spend quality time with your children.  You can talk while watering the plants or you can work quietly beside each other.  The bottom line is, always do what you have to do, together with your kids.  You might discover a lot of new things about your child while mingling with them in your garden.

Your kids will learn more than you ever thought possible by planting a simple garden, and not only that, it will boost their self esteem and bring your family closer together in the end.
Click Here!