Why You Should Garden With Your Kids

Summer is a great time for kids — they’re out of school and free to have fun every day. However, many kids use too much of their leisure time glued to their phones, tablets, computers, or video games, which can be great for giving parents a break, but it’s not healthy for children.

Getting kids out of the house and active during summer vacation doesn’t have to be a chore or expensive; there are many activities you can engage in with your kids around the house that are free, and one of which is gardening.

Let’s look at the many benefits of introducing your kids to gardening.

Engages All the Senses

One of the most amazing things about gardening is that it engages all the five senses. Kids get to experience how dirt and seeds feel in their hands, the scent of flowers, the taste of fruits and vegetables the plants produce, the bright colors, and the sound of water when you’re watering.

Encourages Healthy Eating

We’ve known for a long time that a healthy diet includes fruits and vegetables, and too many kids in America aren’t getting enough. Getting your children into gardening allows you to teach them the importance of getting the nutrition fruits and veggies provide and gives them, and it’s exciting for them to eat the produce they’ve grown themselves. Furthermore, fruits and vegetables you grow in your garden are often more nutritious than what you can get at the grocery store.

It’s Educational

Every plant requires something different for healthy growth. Gardening is an exceptional teaching aid because it teaches kids valuable lessons on how to grow their own food that can last a lifetime. Gardening is also a great way to get your kids interested in science. Why are leaves green? Why do plants need sunlight and water? Why do some plants grow better in soil than in clay? How do insects affect plants? Even if you don’t have a green thumb, getting into gardening with your kids can be a great learning experience and you may just spark a passion for it that will last a lifetime.

It Teaches Responsibility

Like taking care of a pet, gardening requires a lot of work and dedication to produce results; you can’t just plant seeds and hope everything works out for the best. One must learn to water the plants regularly and maintain weeds and insects to get the best results.

Getting kids into gardening helps them learn the responsibility of seeing something through from beginning to end, and teaches them the value of sticking to something through the ups and downs.

It Gives Kids A Sense of Accomplishment

There are few things as satisfying for young children than for them to plant something in the earth, nurture it, and then reap the rewards. Children will learn that some plants grow faster than others and some require more care. You and your kids can sit down together and plan out your garden to achieve the best results.

Teaching children how to successfully garden demonstrates how important it is in life to dedicate yourself to something over a long period of time to reach your goals, which is something they can carry with them throughout their lives.

It Keeps Math Skills Sharp

Your kids may not realize it, but they’ll be learning and retaining valuable math skills when they engage in gardening. For example, how far apart do you plant the seed? How many seeds can you comfortable fit in a row for best results? How much water does each plant need? How many hours of sunlight should a particular plant get? How much fertilizer do I need to measure out? And so on. Math skills are one of the first things to wane during summer vacation, so anything you can do to keep your kids sharp will ensure they’re prepared for the start of the school year in the fall.

It Teaches Patience

We live in a world where instant gratification is the norm, which decreases patience levels in children and adults. A successful garden can take weeks or months to develop, and gardening is an excellent way to teach children the lesson that some things in life are worth waiting and working for.

Gardening is challenging, fun, exciting and an excellent way for children and parents to bond together and enjoy the fruits of their labors.

About Kids R’ Kids

At Kids R’ Kids at Avalon Park, we love children and helping them get the best start on their educational paths is our focus. Each Kids R’ Kids facility is family-owned and operated by people in our community. Our learning academies are nationally renowned, and we provide a safe, secure, state-of-the-art learning environment with each owner.

If you’d like more information about how we can best provide for your child’s early educational needs, contact us today to schedule a visit at 407-306-9035. We’re conveniently located at 12881 Tanja King Blvd., Orlando, Florida.