AGRI-PULSE – RUSTENBURG - Gardening is often thought of as a hobby for the older generation, but gardening can be enjoyed by anyone and has many health benefits for people of all ages. Gardening is a terrific way to get children involved with nature. It has the power to teach kids about the beauty of flowers and vegetables, whilst also teaching them valuable life lessons like patience and self-confidence.
It equips them with critical skills that can help them in other areas of their lives.
Some of the benefits children can experience by helping in the garden
* Engages all the senses: With gardening, kids can touch and feel the dirt, seeds, flowers and leaves, see the vibrant colours and varied sizes of the plants, hear the sound of the vegetable when it’s taken from the plant, and smell the amazing scents of the flowers. Allowing all the senses to be involved helps kids understand and grasp the concept of gardening and, in turn, teaches them to appreciate nature.
* Encourages healthy eating: Getting children to eat their fruit and vegetables can sometimes be a challenge. When they are involved in every step of the process, however, they gain an interest in eating them too. Even the pickiest eaters won’t be able to resist trying veggies they’ve grown themselves!
* Gardening is a form of exercise: Less than 25% of kids meet the recommended daily level of physical activity. Digging and playing in the garden promotes increased levels of exercise, and helps kids use their imagination and creativity- and gets them away from digital devices.
* Enhances fine motor development: Gardening and fine motor skills go hand-in-hand. In the garden, children must move around a lot to tackle tasks like watering, fertilising, pruning, digging, weeding and bending. As kids do these tasks, they develop important motor skills that will help them improve their academic skills such as writing, cutting and typing.
* Allows you to spend quality time together: Life can be very hectic sometimes, with work, the school run and the never ending to do list to get through at home. Gardening allows you to take a step back and enjoy some mindful activity away from distractions; the perfect way to connect with your child and enjoy the simple things in life.
* Develops social skills: Gardening can be a very sociable activity, especially in schools. Children can learn to work together and will enjoy discussing different types of flowers and plants, and the process they carried out to plant their seeds. Gardening presents wonderful opportunities for children to bond and help each other look after and nurture their plants.
* Improves mood and reduces stress: Spending time outdoors is vital for improving or maintaining positive mental health. Research has shown that by undertaking simple gardening activities, people can reduce their stress levels, and improve their mood and self-esteem.
* Teaches responsibility and patience: Kids learn that they must take care of their seeds each day for them to grow into healthy plants. They will quickly learn they get out what they put in; if the plants aren’t regularly watered and taken care of, they won’t flourish. Gardening is a great way to teach responsibility, but it is no overnight process. Kids are used to immediate gratification; however, gardening is often a slow process. They must learn to be patient when waiting for their flowers and vegetables to grow.
* Enhances the ability to plan and organise: For those that garden regularly, you understand that planning and organising a garden can be time consuming and somewhat of an art form. You must know which flowers bloom during which time of year, how long it takes a seed to turn into a vegetable and when is the best time to plant your seeds. Involving kids in this process helps increase their planning and problem-solving skills. It also enhances their organisational strategies, which can be carried over to every facet of life.
* Highlights the importance of taking care of the environment: When children garden, they realise how important it is to take care of the Earth if they want their garden to grow and produce healthy plants. It creates the perfect opportunity for parents to talk to their kids about concepts such as pollution, pesticides and recycling.
* It’s fun! Gardening is an inexpensive way of having fun. You don’t need expensive tools or plants to make a beautiful garden, just some pots, soil and some seeds, which in time, can blossom into a charming outdoor space and provide hours of fun along the way.
It is important to get our kids back into nature for a healthier and happier home.
