Gardening with your kids might be one of the best things you can do for them. Not only is it a great way to spend quality time together, it can also make a big difference in their physical, mental and emotional health. Working side by side provides opportunities for bonding as children get fresh air, healthy exercise, connect with nature and trade sunshine for the glow from a screen. Kids love to play in the dirt and are naturally curious, so it won't take much to get them interested. And if the adults in the house are new to gardening, imagine how much fun it would be to learn together! Here's how to get started.

 

The garden can be large, small or limited to a few pots on a balcony. In fact, starting small with a container or two is a great way to introduce your child to gardening. Regardless of size or location, every garden has the potential to become a “living lab” wherein kids can learn about science, ecology, nutrition and sustainability. If you involve them in choosing what to grow, such as a favorite veggie, or flowers in colors they like, your child is much more likely to be interested. The experience of planting a seed, seeing it germinate and grow into a mature plant is certain to prompt questions such as, “Why do plants need sunlight?” or “How do they drink water?” They learn about how leaves and vegetable trimmings becomes nutrient-rich compost, and how it all works together. Each new season and each new plant will bring opportunities to learn.

 

Gardening activities such as digging, planting, weeding and watering provide exercise, promote flexibility and improve coordination. Fine motor skills are developed as children plant tiny seeds and learn to prune smaller plants. A shared family activity in a peaceful, green environment is also a natural stress reliever and works to improve concentration even after the work is done. Emotional well-being is fostered through the connection with nature as well as the sense of achievement and improved self-esteem that stems from nurturing living things. Time together in the garden also fosters cooperation and team building and helps to promote communication skills.

 

In a world where technology fuels the desire for “instant gratification,” gardening helps children and adults to slow down. Gardening requires time and dedication to research, plan and understand the plants we are growing. It also requires patience to wait for the seeds to sprout, plants to grow, and fruits to ripen. Kids develop a sense of purpose during this process while the anticipation of flowers blooming and harvesting vegetables helps them understand the concept of delayed gratification. Tending plants on a regular basis also improves mindfulness, organizational skills and observation. Children also develop a sense of responsibility and the ability to meet challenges as they plant, water, weed, and provide general maintenance to the garden area. Even failures are opportunities to learn, understand and accept. Parents can help children deal with these situations and assist them in applying what they've learned to other aspects of life.

 

Better Nutrition
Children are much more likely to eat fruits and vegetables if they have had a hand in growing them. They learn to appreciate the difference in taste, texture and appearance of home grown produce and also tend to become more interested in a wider variety of foods. The experience of growing, harvesting, and preparing food from the garden is a great way to plant the desire for nutritious options and contributes to lifelong healthy eating habits.

 

When children practice water conservation, use natural fertilizers and observe how kitchen scraps become valuable compost, they acquire a sense of responsibility to the environment and learn how to be stewards of the planet. These practices not only benefit the immediate surroundings but also contribute to a broader understanding of how individuals can make a positive impact on the planet.

 

A sensory-rich garden environment will automatically become a space for a child's creativity and imaginative play. In addition, parents can encourage exploration and learning by setting up activities that children will enjoy in the garden such as these:
--Choose pollinator plants that will attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, other beneficial creatures. Children can observe, understand their life cycles, and learn how pollinators help plants thrive.
--Gather colorful leaves, twigs, and flowers to create collages. Children can paint cardboard, arrange and glue collected items on the painted background. This activity allows children to be creative while experiencing the textures, smells, and color in the natural world.
--Explore the insect world by providing “catch and release” bug-catching kits and magnifying classes. Have kids research and identify the insects and learn their function.
--Encourage native bees to occupy your garden. Make holes of different sizes in pieces of natural (untreated) wood and position them in sheltered areas of the garden.
--Make bird feeders from found materials such as pinecones, peanut butter and birdseed. Then observe, identify, and learn about the different birds that come into your garden.
--Set up an outdoor art space with easels, brushes, washable paints, and paper or canvases and encourage children to paint what they observe in the garden. Children love it when parents/adults work alongside them on this project.
--Use diaries or observation journals to draw and document changes in plant growth, the insects they observe in the garden, the changes in the seasons--the sky's the limit! This activity will help them develop scientific observation skills using pictures and words.

For more about kids, gardening, and ways they can learn about agriculture and the natural world, check out the following:

UC Master Gardener School Garden Workshops: 

UCCE Elkus Ranch Environmental Education Center:

 

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Cynthia Nations is a UC Master Gardener who enjoys gardening with her grandchildren in El Granada. She also holds a Ph.D. in education and consults on education. The article was edited by UC Master Gardener Maggie Mah.