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It really saddens me to see how people mistreat nature. It’s not any new but years ago we were not as informed but today there is just no good excuse.

What can we do about this lack of respect for our planet?  Well I have it figured out. We don’t have to look any further than our children.

I grew up on a farm and we grew our own food, meat, vegetables and fruit. I was involved as part of the family. Today I love to see the children’s involvement with environment-friendly activities.

One such nature-loving activity that children could easily get their hands on is gardening. Our son was started as soon as he was able to walk with falling on his face every few steps.

Why should you consider gardening for your children?

Here are a few benefits that gardening could provide your children with:

1.  Science - In planting, children are indirectly taught the wonders of science like the plant’s life cycle and how human’s intervention can break or make the environment.  They can have a first hand experience on the miracle of life through a seed.  This would definitely be a new and enjoyable experience for the kids.

I learned that if I didn’t pull out all the weeds in our garden there would be less food for me because the weeds need food and would steal it from the vegetables. I never did like eating dandelions so I would pull them out.

2.  Life - I remember getting so excited once I saw the dirt in our garden give way to little shots from all that we planted.

Watching a kernel of corn turn into a plant and then give us back more corn was awesome.

In time, kids will learn to love their plants and appreciate the life in them. I will admit that I didn’t think I would love gardening in later years as it just seemed like too much work when I was a kid. I would much rather run around and waste energy that way rather on my knees weeding the garden, but I didn’t mind pulling things out that I could eat, like radishes and carrots.

I think making gardening a life lesson is important so that the kids don’t just think you’re making them work. Let gardening simulate their little minds and show them how caring for something, like a plant can help you in life.  All I got was if you don’t work you don’t eat, plain and simple.

3.  Relaxation - Studies have shown that gardening can reduce stress because of its calming effect. This is applicable to any age group.  More so, it stimulates all the five senses.  Believe it or not, gardening may be used as therapy to children who have been abused or those who are members of broken homes.  It helps build one’s self-esteem when taught correctly.

4.  Quality Time with the Family - As a parent you can come home from a stressful day at work and a simple walk through your garden can lower your stress level in just minutes.

Kids are the same, they build stress through their days at school and need an outlet that is healthy and productive. Gardening does this but only if it’s made to be fun and rewarding.

Take the time to talk with your kids while gardening but make sure it’s never discipline. Don’t take the love of gardening and turn it into a task. It took me a lot of years to get over that aspect of gardening. It was always a chore as a kid and I didn’t get a lot of joy out of it.

Let kids become aware of their environment’s needs. And one way to jumpstart that environmental education may be through gardening.  Make it something they want to do all through life and maybe their lives will be less stressful and our world will be one big garden.

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