Children & Gardening

Few people would suggest gardening is not good for you. Yes, there’s the possibility of injury – pulled muscles, stings from plants or insects, a slap in the face from a poorly-placed rake – but the benefits of tending to one’s own garden far outweigh the threat of harm, and some would say the potential ‘war wounds’ are a badge of honour for the rewards that are often clearly visible. So imagine the effect on children… We like an expert or two, and they will all tell you that not only are the good bits – the fresh air, nature, satisfaction from a job well done – helpful for our little ones as they develop their own green fingers, they stand to learn a lot about life and nature too.

There’s no denying the satisfaction derived from manual labour, so cutting the grass, digging a new border – or simply a hole for a new plant – provides a measure of contentment in itself. Add the exercise bonus and the joy of seeing the results, and it’s easy to see why 27million of us enjoy gardening. But it’s not a popular hobby by chance; gardening has been proven to reduce cortisol – the stress hormone – increase endorphins – happy hormones – and when our hands come into contact with the soil, they’re exposed to the mycobacterium vaccae bacteria which triggers the release of serotonin, potentially mirroring the effects of anti-depressants; if we’re lucky enough to have a sunny day too, the production of vitamin D can also improve our mood: the benefits are clearly more than just anecdotal.

But there are also many opportunities for children to gain valuable like skills and enjoy the freedom they may miss in the confines of a classroom. The diversity of stimuli in the garden gives children a perpetual canvas for creativity and provides an endless source for questions to further fuel curious minds. Learning can come from the answers provided or from their own investigations and multi-sensory experiences, and for those children that seem to have an infinite supply of energy, there’s the prospect of releasing some of it safely, without restriction (just make sure those rakes are locked away!); it’s still learning.

    

With so much potential in the garden, choices are endless. Some children will just want to play, particularly if water is involved, but that can lead to watering plants; others may want to search for bugs, birds, egg shells or snail shells, and that can encourage further exploration of what nature has to give. And then there are those that love nothing more than getting their hands dirty – what more do they need? It may take a little while to encourage those mucky fingers to start planting, but if playing with soil is the initial incentive, there are certainly worse things they could be doing. Allowing each child to indulge in their own preferences will nurture their individuality whilst they enjoy the outdoors. Forcing participation will do nothing more than cause irritation, which will always be associated with garden activities; accepting a more natural progression from play to loosely structured activities, however, can potentially foster a lifelong love of and respect for gardening and indeed, nature.

      

Once the interest has been sparked, it won’t be long before children will want to grow their own produce, and of course that requires patience, but checking progress and noticing the subtle differences from day to day will further stimulate intrigue and anticipation. When their produce is ready, not only will children have learned where food comes from, but the whole growing cycle will make more sense, and there’ll be the same sense of achievement and pride we all experience when harvesting our own crops. Experimenting with seeds that require different growing periods, in different quantities and areas will add to that excitement, but it also requires a level of organisation that encourages problem-solving, time-management and using maths in a different way; it also gives children the chance to plan ahead, and they may well be more inclined to try new foods and flavours without being forced to – who wouldn’t want their child to be eating more fruit and vegetables?

      

And what better way to promote teamwork? Deciding what should be grown, where, and who is responsible for what tasks can only be done if children work together, and that will enhance their social skills from a young age, whilst the focus necessary for various activities that often lead to different activities can improve concentration levels for all involved.

There are many more lessons to be learned: not everything goes to plan, and there will be times when crops fail, but that itself can be a lesson in responsibility and resilience without too much trauma, as well as for life in general; it also offers the chance to learn coping skills as well as finding workable solutions. Harnessing water and adding plant cuttings to compost heaps offers the chance to do a little for our planet, whilst the exercise provided by digging in a border, pushing a wheelbarrow or carrying a full watering can sends a great message about healthy living. A world obsessed by cleanliness may struggle with the concept of turning a blind-eye to dirty hands, but exposure to germs is proven to help build a strong immune system; the garden really is part of the school of life, and it can do so much for a child’s confidence, providing a place of solace when needed.

None of this has to be on a grand scale; a couple of pots on a windowsill would work well if the outdoors in inaccessible; if outside space is available, a small planter or the corner of a border are good starting points for budding gardeners. Whilst supervision is a given, allowing children free reign is the best way to inspire their imagination and future participation, and it’s almost guaranteed a whole raft of questions will follow, providing a more organic involvement of science, and that’s never a bad thing. For all those questions we may not be able to answer, there’s a book, a website or a garden centre that can help! And of course, if you need any supplies –gloves, pots, seeds, tools – you know where to come.