Getting children involved in the garden

From an early age, children are naturally inquisitive and enjoy participating in simple gardening activities. Their interest can be encouraged by allowing them to safely explore the various shapes, colours, and events which surround them. Because most toddlers have short attention spans and tire easily, it is a good idea to restrict the length of each session and to focus on activities which can be readily understood and easily incorporated into their everyday experience of the world.

One of the most appealing activities for young children is harvesting brightly coloured fruits and vegetables. With the widespread dominance of supermarkets and packaged foods, it is a privilege for children to experience the original source of fresh produce. Their awareness and appreciation of real food can be continued by extending this activity to the kitchen where the produce is washed and prepared as a salad or some other dish which the child will enjoy. By contextualising their garden activities in this manner, the initial foundation is established for an appreciation of important values such as physical work, nutrition, hygiene, and sharing.

Other garden activities suitable for toddlers include watering plants, picking flowers, planting young trees, and gathering leaves. It is always important to verbally discuss these activities with young children and to carefully answer any questions or concerns which may arise. Visiting a good bookseller or searching the internet will help to locate published resources which explore concepts of gardening from a child’s perspective.

A place to learn

Throughout their primary years, children develop and extend their capacity for logic and abstract reasoning. With an emerging ability to manipulate complex ideas and concepts, it is typical for them to demonstrate a sustained interest in the complexities of human culture, machinery, natural science, and design. Primary aged children also require plenty of outdoor recreation and physical exercise to develop their coordination and to establish the metabolism and activity levels which contribute to physical strength and wellbeing throughout adulthood. Given the appropriate support and encouragement, most children will participate in the various tasks and challenges of gardening. An excellent introduction to organic principles can be initiated through explanation and discovery of the life cycles for plants, soil types and insects in the garden. Try to focus on the important relationships between healthy soil, plants, and wholesome produce.

At some point in their development, it is essential for children to gain practical experience in complex decision making. A garden is one of the best environments to experiment with basic planning and resource allocation. In addition to growing the things they enjoy, older children should be encouraged to consider factors such as climate, soil quality, and the amount of work involved. Because these aspects of the garden are often dynamic and subject to change, intelligent children may develop the ability to adapt their planning to accommodate changing inputs. This flexibility is required in many contemporary occupations, particularly those established within political, administrative, and business organisations.

Of course, some children are more interested in gardening as an outlet for creativity or pure enjoyment. Compared with the traditional vegetable patch, a rambling wilderness garden packed with daisies, herbs, and sunflowers can provide more colour, texture, and mysterious fragrances for the imaginative or unconventional child. A loosely structured garden can also be therapeutically relaxing for emotional and highly strung children. Parents may discover that time spent gardening with their children helps to provide deeper insights to their individual personality and abilities. Gardening can also provide positive links between children and elderly neighbours or relatives. These opportunities are increasingly important to counteract the influence of negative stereotypes and the false barriers of self focused consumerism.

A place to form ideas

As children develop and mature through high school, they become increasingly interested in defining themselves through expressions of creativity, taste, fashion, sport and social relationships. Gardening itself is rarely a pursuit or priority for older children and teenagers. On the other hand, many teenagers are desperately concerned about the condition of their planet. This should not surprise since many have grown up in countries which refuse to intervene on key issues like global warming, habitat destruction, extinction of numerous plant and animal species, overpopulation, pollution, urban decay, and the despoliation of rivers and oceans. Learning about the organic movement will help some teenagers overcome their sense of despair and may increase their commitment to develop strategies and solutions within their own spheres of influence.