1. Gardens create a reoccurring reason for children to get outside.
One of the simplest reasons to take up gardening is that it creates a daily routine when it comes to getting outside with your child. Accessible regardless of the weather, there are few kids that wouldn't jump at the opportunity to mess around in the mud so it shouldn't be hard to get them excited about the process. Whether it's a garden in your backyard, a bed in your local community garden, or a few pots on your balcony, there is no wrong way to do it. Gardening is a longitudinal activity; it lasts year-round, so it will be there whenever you want to spend time together.2. Gardening teaches children patience.
The process of gardening includes lots of steps for your child to get involved with. From buying soil to visiting farmers' markets to buy seeds, to internet research and trips to the hardware and gardening store for supplies, there are lots of activities to do together. Each step along the way is an opportunity to excite your child's imagination.
A garden requires daily care, but in short spurts that ensure you can hold your child's attention.
3. Gardens help educate children about nutrition.
Many school districts have started including gardening and farm-to-school programs in their curriculums, recognizing the garden as a classroom. Especially when it comes to learning about nutrition and taking care of our bodies with whole foods. Gardens give you the opportunity to chat with your child about the different vegetables you’ll plant. You can discover together what crops grow best locally, and what's in season. It may help to start drawing up a list of the vegetables that grow well during the time of year you’re starting your garden and let your child pick his or her veggies to tend. Involving your child in choosing which veggies to grow improves the odds they’ll actually eat them.
4. Gardening can help support a child's mental development.
Growing food in a garden setting teaches and engages the whole person--body, mind, and spirit. Perhaps this is why it has been shown to be great for mental health. A 2011 study on gardening as a form of therapy showed that the activity helps kids cast themselves in a positive light, manage their emotions, and regulate their own behaviour. Gardening's therapeutic properties are great for everyone, but the activity has been shown to be especially fruitful for children with behavioural and anger management issues. You may find gardening a centring and rewarding endeavour that helps you as much as it helps your child.5. Gardening teaches kids to make an impact.
Urban gardens are cropping up in cities across the world, partially for the aforementioned reasons, but also because more and more people understand that being close to our food is good for our environment. Growing even a small portion of our own food has an aggregate impact that reduces reliance on big agricultural monopolies that use toxins and pesticides in their crops that many of us would rather not digest.Keep Reading
7 Sustainable Ways To Welcome Spring At Home
By planting ten trees for every item you purchase, it’s our mission to plant 1 billion trees by 2030. Head to our website to learn more and begin your planting journey with 10% off.