We are in a day and an age where gardening seems to be getting scarce. Of course, many parents and their children live in suburbs or big cities where it’s hard to grow a garden. Hoeing, tilling, and planting seems to associate more to the past. You imagine a plow and a tiresome mule toiling to reap a field of fruitful labor. Farmers gained a harvest that benefitted their bellies and income. Children today can learn the same benefits. Unwrinkled hands can learn the same hard work and dedication it takes to eat, feel, and look upon their accomplishment.
Hard Work – When gardening, children have to put in hard work in order to retrieve their goal of eating a carrot they are planting or watch a rose come into full bloom. Some tools are required to plant vegetables or flowers. Using certain gardening tools, such as a hoe or hand trowel, will enable children to use their little muscles. They will be more disciplined and a work ethic will start to form for later years.
Responsibility – Deep brown eyes will have to keep watch on tulip bulbs or tomato seeds. Daily watering will be needed in order for a plant to live. Children will have to learn different techniques to grow vegetables or flowers and learn to follow instructions to yield their best harvest. For instance, tomato plants need support in order to grow. A stake will help give leverage and keep plump tomatoes off the ground.
Health Benefits – Vitamin D will seep into their skin while they dig in the dirt. Children will be more prone to being active and fit. Instead of clinging to a game remote, they’ll cling to nature. Being amongst whimsical pansies under sunbeams will also illuminate their mental state.
Family time – Children and their parents will spend quality time together when gardening. Laughter and spunky conversations will be involved. Birds will chirp along to the chirping of children getting their hands dirty. Memories will be made when picking a tomato with “Pa-pa.” Gardening can enrich not only taste buds and sight, but the hearts of moms, dads and their little ones.
Learning experience – Children will learn that food comes from the fertile ground. They’ll look in awe as the vegetable they planted grew from sprout to “delicious in my mouth!” When they pass by a tomato or cucumber in the grocery store they’ll think, “I planted that.” It will give them a sense of amazement and achievement.
Learning profits – Do you want your children to learn some math skills? Have them sell some of their flowers or vegetables they have grown. They can compare the expenses to the products they have sold and in turn, figure profits.
Gardening for a child will help grow their mind and spirit. Get them digging and they will become dirty with joy and pure sunshine.
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