BENEFITS OF GARDENING FOR KIDS
It's a sad thing to know that mmany people fail to pay much attention anymore to
environmental problems. What can we do about this? It's as simple as starting
with the children. It's good to see children involvement with
environment-friendly activities. One such nature-loving activity that children
could easily get their hands on is gardening.
Why should you consider gardening for your children?
Here are the benefits that gardening could easily provide for children:
1. Science
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. Life
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, one could educate how bad
influences should be avoided to be able to live life smoothly.
3. Relaxation
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. Quality Time with the Family
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.
Let kids become aware of their environment's needs. And one way to jumpstart
that environmental education may be through gardening. It's hitting two birds
with one stone -- teach them to respect life while you bond with them.