People who garden may have thought about teaching their kids how to do it. Whether they first learn about gardening at a preschool in Potomac, MD, or at home, gardening is something that most kids will enjoy. For kids, it’s fun, gets them outside in the dirt, and can teach them important science and life lessons.
It does more than that, though. Gardening with your kids will strengthen their immune systems, and they will learn early on how to live more environmentally friendly. While gardening might seem like a lot of work to some people, it has so many benefits that those easily outweigh any cons.
Growing a garden helps young children develop patience, focus, and memory. Because of the instant satisfaction that comes with living in the digital age, children today have an attention span that seems to keep getting shorter. Regular garden maintenance is an excellent method to help kids learn patience and sharpen their attention span.
While gardening, kids learn to be patient and take responsibility, which is good for their social and mental growth. Additionally, gardening with kids is a great way to build stronger bonds between kids, their caregivers at a preschool in North Potomac, MD, and their parents. Gardening with kids also teaches them how to work and communicate with others.
There are more benefits to gardening with your kids than just enjoyment. This assignment serves as a science experiment, teaches you how to raise your own food, and imparts valuable life skills. Because their children get to eat the food they cultivate, many parents discover that gardening with their children also helps them eat a healthier diet!
Keep reading to learn about some of the biggest benefits of gardening with children.
Growing a garden is a wonderful way to instill responsibility in your children. Taking care of plants is a lot of work. Caring for a garden requires dedication; children must water, feed, and pull weeds from the plant every day. The plant only reaches its full size if it is properly taken care of.
You shouldn’t be surprised if it takes your child a while to get used to garden care and see it as a duty instead of a chore. You don’t have to push them if they aren’t interested, but keep in mind that the lesson might only stick at the end of the growing season when they can see the good work they did.
Watching and waiting for plants to grow is difficult. But your kids will also enjoy seeing how their plants change every day and every week.
While the beginning tasks are boring, things will get more exciting when sprouts start to show up. After that, they can see how the plants grow. It’s important to walk them through each step and remind them to water and feed their plant as needed.
If you think your kids might not have the patience required for things that take longer to grow, choose a crop that grows quickly, like radishes, lettuce, pumpkins, snap peas, and some flowers.
Kids generally enjoy getting their hands dirty, and gardening is a great way to encourage that. However, there are several health advantages to playing in the garden beyond the mere enjoyment of getting dirt under your fingers. Many people believe that the more kids are exposed to dirt and the great outdoors, the stronger their immune systems will become. And a stronger immune system means a lower risk of asthma and allergies.
Looking for helpful tips on how to successfully garden with kids? Here are some of the best tips from caregivers at a preschool in Potomac, MD, for creating a child-friendly garden.
Starting with a project that is too big is a recipe for disaster! Begin with smaller projects they can enjoy. You can start with plants in pots instead of in your yard if you’d rather. You could also stick to one flower bed or give each child their own plot with one crop. These goals will be more attainable, keeping their attention and encouraging them to stick with it until they reach their goal.
Let your child have a say in every step of the farming process. This will get them interested in it. Let them pick what to plant, maybe a snack they like. As a flower lover, help your child choose a type that grows in the desired color. Instead, offer a crop that will lead to something they like to do, like pumpkins for Halloween.
Make sure they’re not depending on you for their gardening activities. Get them their own gardening tools, like a rake, hoe, pail, and gardening gloves. Instead of giving your kids cheap toy tools, get them real ones to help them do their work well. Just keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t accidentally hurt themselves. If you give them their own garden plot, food, and tools, it will help them feel independent and proud. It will feel like a job for them, and they’ll be even more proud when their plants finally bloom.
It’s even more fun to eat the food you grew than to watch your yard grow. The yard is a great place for kids to eat. When you’re out in the yard, kids can pick and eat different fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Tomatoes, grapes, carrots, greens, and even edible flowers are some of their favorites.
Gardening not only strengthens the immune system and lowers allergy rates but also imparts valuable life values like patience and responsibility. More importantly, though, is that it allows you to spend time with your kids, which is perhaps the most important thing of all!
MCCA has been recognized by the Maryland State Legislature for its commitment to Montgomery County issued a quality programs and special needs child care Proclamation in 2016 to MCCA for its commitment to Montgomery County child care for more than 50 years. MCCA was also selected as a 2018 nonprofit finalist for a MOXIE Award for boldness and innovation
MCCA is the oldest nonprofit licensed child care provider in Montgomery County and started its work in 1968 as a Community Action Project of the War on Poverty. Recognizing the need for quality child care programs in their neighborhoods, a group of local activists formed an association to establish centers in Montgomery County that would serve a diverse population and establish high standards for child care. Now, more than 50 years later, MCCA’s dedicated and expertly trained staff continue their tradition of providing high quality child care and play-based education for children.
Families with school aged children who can afford their child care expenses during the school year often struggle to afford the all-day programs they need when school is out for the summer. The Richard Krampf Summer Adventures Scholarship Fund was established to help provide children a safe and stimulating place to spend their weeks when school is out. Please contact an MCCA Director for details on how to apply.
