Green-Minded: Encouraging Children to Enjoy Gardening
Spring is a time of rejuvenation. There is no better sight than flowers blooming and fruits beginning to grow in the sunshine. To make the most of the outdoors this year, your family can enjoy gardening. Whether you’re particularly green-minded or entirely new to the hobby, this is a great skill for everyone to learn.
This article will explore some of the ways you can encourage your children to enjoy gardening. To start, we will discuss some of the benefits of this activity, and then give you some tricks and tips to get your outdoor space thriving.
Gardening benefits from early years to teenagers
Gardening is a great activity for children to learn. As well as learning a new skill that will last a lifetime, mowing lawns and tending to plants is beneficial in more ways than one. Here are some of the main positives children will experience by developing green fingers.
A mud-load of fun
More than anything else, gardening is a fun activity for the whole family. It doesn’t matter if your children are interested in growing vegetables or plants, this is the perfect chance to spend quality time together and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Quality time is important in any family. This is how we build a long-lasting relationship with our loved ones. To ensure the good times never end, lead by example and express your enthusiasm for the activity. You are your children’s number one role model, after all.
Spending more time outdoors
Children love to get their hands dirty. Most of the time, this isn’t the ideal situation for parents. Gardening, however, allows children to get hands-on with nature without causing an unnecessary mess.
If you want to encourage your children to enjoy gardening, ensure you have a number of weather-appropriate items to stave off rainy days. These can range from waterproof jackets to kid’s umbrellas. Then, whatever the weather, the whole family can take a breath of fresh air and get stuck in the mud.
Maintaining mental and physical health
Gardening can be important to maintaining mental and physical health in children. Anyone who has ever picked up a shovel and spade will know that pruning the garden is a sure way to exercise and break a sweat. Whether your children do this once a week or once a month, a little gardening is a good way to build muscle and bone strength.
In addition to this, gardening can benefit mental health and well-being in people of all ages. Similar to other forms of play, the sensory elements of gardening are soothing for children and adults alike. In other words, the ability to get hands-on with nature, to feel and mould soil is enjoyable. This is a welcome addition to seeing the fruits of your own labour.
If you don’t have a garden ready to prune, your children can visit other outdoor areas. To make sure the children of tomorrow have a peaceful place to go and process emotions, Place2Be is creating the Securing Tomorrow Garden. This will allow children of all ages to enjoy the health benefits of the outdoors, irrespective of their socioeconomic backgrounds.
Gardening tips and tricks for the whole family
Now you’re aware of the benefits of gardening, you will need to make the activity accessible for your children. Every child is unique, and you may need to personalise your approach to suit them, so it’s a good thing nobody knows your children better than their parents.
Starting simple with a miniature vegetable patch
To kickstart your gardening journey, start simple and create a miniature vegetable patch. There are lots of rules and methods people of all ages must learn in order to grow a vibrant garden. To children, this may seem daunting, so sticking with the basics will ease them in and grab their attention.
Personalising your garden
Motivation is key when encouraging children into gardening. It doesn’t matter who we are, we are more likely to endure and succeed in something we enjoy. The same goes for gardening. So if your child has a passionate dislike of vegetables, you can try growing a selection of sweet fruits or flowers.
Strawberries are always a winner. Not only is the red colour easy identifiable for children, but the sweet flavour is also irresistible. Plant the seeds in March or April to feast on these fruits between June and October. You can grow strawberries in the ground or in pots as long as there is a suitable amount of sun.
These are the best ways to encourage children to enjoy gardening. More than anything else, remember to celebrate every milestone, and your child may continue to love this activity throughout their life. Growing your own fruits, vegetables, and plants is an accomplishment. Which are you excited to plant first?
Sources
https://thehabitat.com/life/making-the-most-of-family-time-in-2022/
https://www.nhsggc.org.uk/about-us/professional-support-sites/screen-time/
https://www.haxnicks.co.uk/blogs/grow-at-home/gardening-and-mental-health-with-life-at-no-27
https://www.gardenpatch.co.uk/how-to-grow-strawberries-in-your-garden/
