Five Reasons Why Kids Should Garden

http://www.seasonalwisdom.com/2011/06/five-reasons-why-kids-should-garden/



One of my favorite childhood memories was running around the garden until dinner time, chasing after lightning bugs and catching tadpoles. Sadly, too many kids spend most of their summer time indoors, playing on video games or watching TV.
This lack of contact with nature can negatively affect these children’s health, well being and academic performance, say experts.  Here’s why kids should be gardening instead…
Photo by Faith*Buss.

Laura Matthews and her son Asa in the garden. Photo credit: Laura Matthews of PunkRockGardens.com

There are so many reasons why kids of all ages can benefit from gardening. Here are only five:
1) Prevents Nature Deficit Disorder: With so many kids spending time away from nature, we’re seeing evidence of a “nature deficit disorder” in many children. As Richard Louv explained in his book, Last Child in the Woods, this disconnect from nature is leading some kids to become overweight, anxious and depressed. Plus, this nature deficit disorder is affecting children’s performance in school too. More about nature deficit disorder. To make sure this doesn’t happen to your kids, be sure to unplug the electronic gadgets regularly, and involve your family more in the garden.

Photo credit: Faith*Buss

2) Teaches About Nature … and More: Maybe it’s growing a sunflower from seed. Or, building a bean teepee in the backyard. But when you involve kids in gardening, they learn hands-on skills that broaden their awareness of the world around them. They learn why butterflies and bees help pollinate plants. And why the right amounts of water and sun are needed to get gardens to grow. Along with a greater appreciation for nature, gardens can also teach kids about biology, math, history, nutrition and more.
3) Gives Them Exercise: Gardening provides lots of healthy ways for kids to stay active and healthy. Between digging, raking and planting, your children will get plenty of exercise, vitamin D and fresh air. Be sure to make your garden chores creative, and mix them up a bit so they stay interesting. With a little patience, you’ll find your children will become helpful and fun assistants in the garden.

Photo by Laura Matthews of PunkRockGardens.com

4) Encourages Kids To Eat Produce: Ask any parent with a vegetable garden. The kids that grow up around homegrown vegetables are much more likely to eat them too. Maybe it’s because kids enjoy picking fresh beans or tomatoes. Or perhaps it’s because fresh fruit and vegetables simply taste better just picked from your yard. But whatever the reason, gardening is an excellent way to help solve the problem that most U.S. children are not eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables. Try it yourself and report the results.

Photo by Faith*Buss

5) Prepares Them for Life: There’s something magical about gardening. The tiny seeds that grow into healthy, big plants.  The birds that swoop down to capture a juicy worm. The end of the growing season when the plants start to die back for winter. All these lessons can be a wonderful reminder to be patient while things grow, and to keep the faith when some things die away. Besides, as human beings our brains are wired to be out in nature. Perhaps that’s why it’s feels so natural to be out there.

Photo by Faith*Buss

Hear More and Win Prizes: You can learn more about kids and gardening on Nest in Style on Horticulture Radio (for Horticulture Magazine). You’ll find great ideas, products and resources on this topic. Leave a comment and you can enter to win some exciting prizes!
Nest in Style is also on iTunes … so you can listen while gardening with your kids or commuting to work too. Good luck!
Warm Thanks for the wonderful photos from gardening moms and bloggers Faith*Buss and Laura Matthews of Punk Rock Gardens.  Be sure to check out their great blogs too.
Meanwhile, happy gardening!