This Is How Gardening With Kids Can Positively Impact Your Child’s Mind, Body And Soul

Nov 23, 2018 by apost team

Are you looking for a way to encourage your kids to eat more vegetables? If so, gardening with them can be a great way to accomplish this. Even if you’ve never had your own garden, you shouldn’t feel overwhelmed by it because any patch of earth on your property will serve well. You don’t need a full-scale garden either. You could just plant a few veggies in small areas around your existing landscaping.

Another idea is to lean a trellis against one of the outside walls for plants that grow on vines, such as beans and tomatoes. If your space is limited, you could just use some pots in a sunny spot and grow some herbs and small vegetables.

Plants such as cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and radishes are easy to tend to, and kids will love them. Planting your own food usually provides a good return on investment. Even more importantly, the garden will improve your child’s body, mind, and soul.

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When planting a garden with your kids, there are many scientific concepts you can teach them.

A summary of different findings from researches done on garden-based learning for children, youth, adults, and families, has been published by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University. The various results show how children who had done some gardening tended to score higher on science tests than children who had not.

One reason for this is children are always inquisitive. They might ask questions about why the plants need sunlight and water, and they might be curious about the role of other life-forms such as worms and insects.

You could branch off into other topics such as soil composition and photosynthesis, and you can even teach math by having the children measure the weekly growth of the plants.

By sparking a new interest in horticulture and science, you could expand on the gardening experiences by taking your children to a botanical garden, having them keep a plant photo journal and give them children’s books about related subjects.

Not only is there an opportunity for children to gain knowledge, but the garden provides better sources of micronutrients that are good for brain development. Foods like beets, spinach, and garlic, are suitable for brain functioning, and they’re easy to grow.

Even though there are a lot of vegetables that kids will be reluctant to try, they may become curious enough to taste them eventually.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are undoubtedly great for your children’s health, but the act of gardening is also good for their bodies.

Of course, gardening is a physical activity, and we’ve all heard how important it is to get exercise. The typical lifestyle of the 21st Century is far too sedentary, and gardening is one way for kids to get moving. Gardening comes with a variety of physical activities such as carrying containers and tools, digging dirt and pushing a wheelbarrow.

Not only does this provide some exercise, but it also improves children’s basic motor skills. It has also been shown that certain types of heavy exercise lead to a calmer, more focused demeanor.

Nowadays, kids are far too occupied with electronic devices and digital screens. They need more face-to-face interactions with people, and they need to form emotional bonds. Spending quality time with children out in the garden promotes a sense of humanity and being one with nature.

It also gives children experience with planning and pursuing goals by planting seeds, tending to the plants and observing their growth. It promotes greater mindfulness in children when they’re providing water, sunlight, and fertilizer on a regular schedule.

Kids can also learn greater respect for the planet by composting and gathering rainwater. Working outside with the soil and the plants have been shown to decrease anxiety, and kids get to enjoy the privilege of eating delicious home-grown food.

If this has been an enlightening piece of information, don't forget to send it to your friends. How do you feel about gardening? Let us know in the comments.