Thanks for taking the time to read our article about the benefits of gardening for kids. There are of course the obvious educational benefits of understanding nature, and simple things such as how plants actually grow. There are however many more benefits for children of all ages.
These include environmental, social benefits along with both physical and mental health benefits.
Our earth is a very precious commodity, and it is a sad thing to know that people don't pay that much attention to the environmental problems that it is currently experiencing such as global warming.
A great place to start helping with that is to start with the children. One nature loving activity for children that they will enjoy is gardening. Kids also learn quite a lot about this at school, and by encouraging them at home, it will help quite a bit with their education.
Here are the benefits that gardening could easily provide the children with:
Learning Science for Kids in the Garden
Most children simply like getting their hands dirty, so why not encourage them to do that in the garden. By teaching them simple gardening tasks like planting. By doing just that children are indirectly taught the wonders of science.
This includes the life cycle of plants and how their actions 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 younger children especially.
This planting activity also gives kids a sense of ownership. They will want to see what happens as the plants grow, and will give them a real sense of pride.
The good news is that this type of activity takes the child out of the house. They get to breathe fresh clean air and get them away from tablets, electronic gadgets and TV screens.
Making Compost
Simply by teaching them just a little about how to make compost shows them the basics of chemistry. This simple task teaches them about recycling, fermentation, and also how we can create compost that helps plants and vegetables grow.
Meteorology
They learn a little about meteorology as gardening helps them understand the weather, and how it helps plants and vegetables grow. They can get a basic understand of the four seasons, and when to sow, plant and cultivate.
Educational Benefits for Kids in the Garden
Kids pretty much can get excited about anything. For them the whole world is very much a wonder. So something as simple as watching a seed grow into a plant, shrub or tree is a wonderful thing
Over time kids learn to love their plants and appreciate the life in them. They also get to learn the names of plants, a little bit about soil and get to use a garden fork, garden spade and some gardening gloves.
We mentioned above about the scientific benefits of gardening for kids. There are also wider educational benefits as they learn about water, sunlight, air, and soil.
Kids do learn a lot about science in school, but most of it is theory. Gardening puts that theory into practise and allows them to get their hands dirty.
It is easy to state that water helps pants grow, but when they hold a water can, pour the water on the plants and then see them push through the ground, it is a much better educational experience.
Wildlife in the Garden
They can also learn about the wildlife in the garden. There are lots of birds in the garden and insects such as butterflies and bees.
Learning About Relaxation for Kids in the Garden
Activities like walking and gardening are known to help reduce stress. It is no different for children. We may think that kids don't really have stressful situations, but in reality they do.
It may be of a different nature and it may not be adult stress but kids do worry about things.
Gardening does stimulate all the five senses. Sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste can all be stimulated simply by being in the garden.
These days gardening is used to help special needs adults and children and also kids with physical disabilities.
So many people enjoy pottering about in the garden, and it is or can be a place of great relaxation.
Quality Time With the Family
For us one of the biggest benefits is simply to be able to spend quality family time. Kids can play with siblings and friends, and they can learn many new things about their surroundings.
It is also a great place to enjoy meals with the family such as barbecues. All of these types of events helps develop social skills, and allows kids to truly enjoy all the features and benefits of gardening.
Most children are lucky enough to have some type of garden around their home. Even if your home doesn't have a garden it is still a very good idea to use something like garden containers or even a few pots.
It doesn't take much to set up even the simplest form of gardening and get the kids engaged.
