In today's world we see flagrant disregard for the environment that nurtures us as human
beings. Sadly, ignoring what is happening is having a profound effect on our children.
What can we do about this?
We can encourage our children to view the world around us in a different way by
introducing children's involvement with environment-friendly activities. One such
nature-loving activity that children could easily understand and enjoy is gardening.
Here are some of the ways your children will benefit by gardening:
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 -- with care. Life
necessities can 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 out, 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
Forget about your stressful work life for a while and 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
jump-start 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.
Dirt has always been one of a kid's best toys, so home gardening could
just be one fun activity for your children. Excite them by allowing them to pick whichever
plant they want to grow. Here are some tips to help you make your little ones become
enthusiastic with home gardening:
1. Choose the right plants
Kids will more likely choose plants and flowers with bright colors, so
have a load of varieties of plants. Examples of bright flowers are zinnias and cosmos;
these will keep your children fascinated. Don't forget the sunflowers. Anything that is
tall and fuzzy will surely overwhelm a child. Make sure these plants will not cause any
allergic reactions from your kid.
2. Starting seeds
Give your children the freedom to help you with the staring
seeds. Some seeds might be too small for the tiny fingers, but their digits can be of help
in covering them with dirt.
3. Home Gardening Memoir
To help preserve a child's enthusiasm until the plants grow, have them
create a home gardening journal. This activity will allow them to use their imagination to
sketch on what the plants will be like and write down when they placed in the ground the
seeds and when they first witnessed a sprout pushing up.
4. Make sure that the garden is somewhere very visible for the kids.
Before you start home gardening, pick a spot where the kids often play
or walk by. Every time they see and pass by their garden, the more they will sight
changes.
5. Dirt playing
Always remember that children are fond of playing with dirt or mud.
They can help you ready the soil, even if what they are only doing is stomping on the
clumps. To make home gardening with the kids more fun, you can provide them with kid-sized
tools to make home gardening very engaging for them.
6. Your kids own the garden
A picture of each plant will enable the children to foresee what the
flowers will look like. You can also put your child's name on a placard, so everyone can
see that it's their garden.
7. Playing with the water
Playing with water is right up there with playing with dirt. Look for a
small watering can that they can use to water their garden. You can show them how to let
the water go right to the roots of the plants. Hoses want only trouble. They are simply
formidable for little hands to control.
8. Kids make mistakes
Adults, too, are sometimes impatient. Give the kids full control to
their garden. If they create a mess, let it be, it's their mess. Allow them to get
pleasure from it and take dignity in their own piece of territory. Just don't forget to
tell them how to clean up that mess.
