Gardening can be a fun activity for children. Children develop new skills and learn about science and nature from growing their own food. Especially for parents who are struggling to make their kids eat healthy, gardening can be a tool in making kids understand the importance of food. There are a variety of interesting activities children can be involved in, such as planting, mulching, weeding and cooking. Gardening doesn’t need huge lush land but it can be done in just a small section of your house. Try planting in a small raised bed or growing a few edibles in existing landscape. Lean a trellis against an outside wall to grow good climber plants like cucumbers, bottle gourds, white gourds and many other such creeper plants. If you don’t have a lot of outdoor space, place a few earthen pots and soil in a sunny spot. It can be an easy way to grow herbs or some Ladyfinger, brinjal, green chilies, radish, carrot and sweet cherry tomatoes that kids won’t be able to resist. The much bigger return is how planting a garden can affect not only your child’s body but also their brain and soul. There are many benefits from gardening a few to be mentioned below:
Engage all senses: kids involve all their senses of touch and feel the dirt, soil, seeds and flowers. They can see the vibrant colors and the amazing fragrance of the flowers or the new leaves that grow out, they can hear the sound of the fruit or vegetables when plucked from the plan and also hear the birds chirping around. All of it helps in awakening the senses in a child.
Encourage healthy eating: when children see vegetables growing in front of them which they have nurtured and taken care then they would definitely love to try tasting it and hence they gradually develop a healthy eating habit.
Introduces kids to scientific concepts: gardening introduces them to the world of science specially botany, biology and chemistry. Their curiosity to know more as what next leads to making their own hypothesis and accordingly they monitor the daily progress.
Teaches responsibility: Through gardening kids learn to take care of plants and become responsible. They start monitoring it daily and take hundred percent responsibility of them.
Fosters family bonding: Children love to do gardening with parents and grand parent, it creates a special bond between them.
Teaches importance of environment and taking care of it: when kids learn to garden they understand the importance of environment and how to take care of it. This is the perfect time for parents to discuss about environment and pollution issues.
Teaches patience: kids are very snappy by nature so while gardening they understand that things take time and hence they learn to keep patience.
About the Importance of Environment at SIRS: The Eco Club accredits the students to take up and participate in various environment awareness activities and projects. Through this club students reach out to communities and influence and promote environmental behavior. They also observe the important days like Environment Day and Earth Day regularly.
