Benefits to Gardening with Children

Gardening yields many benefits among children. Gardening is a way for them to connect with nature. They will develop a sense of oneness as they learn about the environment. When children engage in activities such as planting seeds, feeding and watering plants, weeding, and pruning, they are developing an understanding that they are a part of a larger ecosystem. Children are learning responsibility while gardening because in order for plants to thrive, they require commitment and consistent care. If plants are ignored or treated poorly, they will quickly wither and die. With this in mind, children will learn cause and effect as they understand their role in the larger ecosystem. They will learn to be proud of their efforts and achievements when they’ve seen the fruition of their labors. This will provide them with a boost in self-confidence when they are able to enjoy the food they’ve grown. 

Gardening also creates the opportunity for children to develop reasoning and discovery. Research shows that gardening positively impacts children‘s accomplishments in the STEM field. The whole STEM skillset is served by planting – which includes computation, examination, observation and experimentation. In addition, gardening teaches children important social skills such as problem solving and cooperation. When they engage in group activities, children develop interpersonal skills by helping and teaching others, working as a team, and overcoming challenges. Gardening is good for children’s mental health. It has a strong therapeutic benefit as it encourages calmness and relaxation among children. As children partake in gardening, naturally they will have a reduction in stress levels.  Encouraging children to take part in gardening provides them with a healthy alternative to television and social media usage.