Teaching Children Gardening Boosts Their Development and Health

by Tony Isaacs

(The Best Years in Life) A study conducted for Britain's Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has found that encouraging children to learn gardening boosts their development by helping them become happier, more confident, and more resilient. In addition, gardening also helps teach children patience and the benefits of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

The study was conducted by researchers at the National Foundation for Children, who surveyed 1,300 teachers and 10 schools. Teachers who used gardening as part of their learning experience reported that it improved children's readiness to learn. The teachers also reported that gardening encouraged pupils to become more active in solving problems, as well as boosted literacy and numeracy skills. Now the society is urging that gardening should be incorporated as a key teaching tool in schools regular curriculum instead of being an optional extra-curricular activity. Read More.

Hi Luella,

I so agree with this artcle. I was with my grandmother in the garden. I think that is why I love gardening so well. It brings back wonderful memories, along with all the great things you learn at a young age. All tied together with love.

As a professional gardener I have had the joy of having my own children and grandchildren help me in the garden, very different results but always fun and rewarding for everyone.

Not only that but many of my customers trusted me to have their children help me in the garden. Again great fun and it made me lifelong friends too.

Cookery and gardening are things that we can share and enrich their lives for the best.

Kids love to eat vegetables that they grew. This helps with normalising vegetables at a time when getting kids to eat healthy can be difficult.

Roger

What I enjoy most about guiding children in growing their own vegetables is the wonder on their face when their very first plant pokes it's head out of the ground. Teaching children to garden serves so many purposes. It teaches them healthy eating habits, but also instills responsibility, accomplishment, self-esteem and even pride.