Green goodness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Studies have shown that early exposure to nature can lead to better mental health as adults<\/a>. And \u2018nature\u2019 can include a garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhether it\u2019s on the windowsill, at home, around your building or at school, the garden is an opportunity to nurture good mental health in our kids,\u201d says Cam Collyer, senior advisor at Evergreen, an organisation facilitating sustainable change across Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But besides improving mental health<\/a>, gardening can teach kids social and executive function skills \u2013 everything from patience to perseverance to understanding different perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key is to make kids active gardeners. \u201cKids are really drawn to a garden if it\u2019s set up properly and they\u2019re given the right invitation \u2013 not to watch, but really to participate,\u201d Collyer says. They need to see gardening as something they can do, rather than a parental activity to observe.<\/p>\n\n\n Inspire your young gardeners to get and out about outside, with a subscription to National Geographic Kids<\/em> or Little Kids<\/em> magazine<\/a>. Every issue features top tips for looking after our planet, alongside exciting articles, family-friendly activities, educational games and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While some of the lessons from gardening are obvious \u2013 watering a plant every day teaches responsibility, for example \u2013 others might be less so. You can even couple the activity with some fun garden science experiments<\/a> to tie in what they’re learning at school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few unexpected life skills your children might learn from gardening; plus ways to keep them excited about digging in the dirt\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Collyer says when kids are set free in a garden, curiosity follows. And that leads them to ask important questions: \u201cHow does this work? What makes up the soil? How does the plant grow? Why are there different seeds of different shapes?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And though the answers might help them learn about science, Collyer says the bigger gain here is the self-directed motivation for learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen an action is compelling, ongoing and changing, the motivation for learning<\/a> goes up,\u201d he says. So, encourage your kids to ask questions and work independently (or with a little help) to find the answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Classrooms often require kids to focus intensely, but when they\u2019re in natural settings like a garden, that focus changes and relaxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s this very comfortable, soft focus that happens when you\u2019re in a natural setting,\u201d Collyer says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That, he says, allows kids to better focus when they return to tasks like reading or maths, adding that it\u2019s why forest bathing<\/a> and outdoor classrooms have grown in popularity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gardeners love to throw around the saying, \u2018Kids who grow their vegetables, eat their vegetables.\u2019 And Collyer says it\u2019s true \u2013 harvesting the garden teaches kids to appreciate the cycles that come from hard work and help them better appreciate the tasty results.<\/p>\n\n\n Parents can add to the appreciation by encouraging kids to think about how plants affect other things, whether it\u2019s providing a share for humans or snacks for insects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA garden is not just about plants,\u201d says Jennifer Reynolds, editor-in-chief at Harrowsmith <\/em>magazine. \u201cIt\u2019s about all the living creatures that come in and out of it, too.\u201d Creating a compost <\/a>can also help support these garden residents – and teach kids more about gardening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Collyer says that, when gardening with kids, the children should be doing as much of the planting, watering and harvesting as they can, with adults along for guidance and supervision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat sense of ownership is really important,\u201d he says. \u201cThis is where the process can be more important than the product.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feeling empowered by tending a garden gives kids the confidence to make their own decisions and solve problems. For instance, when caterpillars threatened the tomatoes in Nicholes\u2019 garden, it was the local kid-gardeners who came up with a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInstead of pulling the caterpillars off and dropping them in soapy water, they figured we could make our chickens happy by providing them with a treat,\u201d she recalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes the garden doesn\u2019t grow. Or a plant is mistaken for a weed and pulled by accident. Dealing with disappointment and finding the resolve to try again are important lessons, too, Nicholes says. \u201cIt\u2019s what creates well-rounded folks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n Do you have a reluctant gardener, or just want to get kids excited for the task? Try one of these techniques\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure everyone knows when it\u2019s time to play in the garden by setting a specific time each week. And make sure devices \u2013 theirs and yours \u2013 aren\u2019t invited. \u201cWhen parents do this together with kids, it sticks and is way more fun,\u201d Reynolds says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A scarf or necktie tied loosely around a child\u2019s eyes can transform the garden from a bunch of green leaves into a sensory experience. \u201cBlindfolds open up other senses,\u201d Collyer says. Smell the flowers, touch the furry leaves (steer clear of prickles!) and feel the different shapes of stems.<\/p>\n\n\n Reynolds suggests writing garden treasures on a recyclable paper bag, then using the bag to collect the goodies. Some ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n All those green leaves might be hiding a colourful surprise. Collyer often takes kids into the garden with white paper in hand for an art project he calls \u2018Nature\u2019s Palette\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Start by having the kids collect different leaves, a bit of soil, soft rocks and bark from the garden. \u201cAnd then you simply start rubbing whatever you\u2019ve got into this canvas,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s inevitably a surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of just gardening with kids, offer children a space that\u2019s all their own. Nicholes suggests letting them design the area (maybe decorating with things from around the garden or house) and choose the seeds or flowers they plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No room in your garden \u2013 or no garden at all? No problem. \u201cLet them design a raised bed or container garden to see how things work together,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2023\/04\/GardeningWithKids-4.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhat skills does gardening grow in kids? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Curiosity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Focus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Appreciation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"gardening](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2023\/04\/GardeningWithKids-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDecision making and problem solving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Patience and resilience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"gardening](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2023\/04\/GardeningWithKids-5.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nGardening with kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Set a recurring time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bring a blindfold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"gardening](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2023\/04\/GardeningWithKids-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nPlan a scavenger hunt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Use nature’s crayons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Create a space<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"a](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2023\/04\/GardeningWithKids-6.jpg\")
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