Make children part of the gardening experience

AS adults we often reflect on some activity or hobby that we can trace back to when we were children. Usually a parent, grandparent, uncle or older sibling is the link and the importance of introducing children to fun activities lasts a lifetime, and often adults won’t even realise they are helping to instil a life-long interest in a child’s mind.

That’s why gardening is a worthy pastime to make kids familiar with. Think for a second about the many positive characteristics that gardening can help to instil in children. It teaches them responsibility, nurturing, thoughtfulness and creativity. It also gives them a link with outdoor pursuits they may otherwise not have an opportunity to do.

Teaching a child to care for a plant is a subtle life lesson about responsibility, respect and reward once a bright colourful flower appears. On a deeper level, it may also be used to demonstrate to older children the spiritual pathway of life and dying. This lesson is optional however, but very often an inquisitive child will already have made this key connection.

Text books, novels, IPads and the internet will all play a part in a child’s education when it comes to understanding the wonders of nature. But by familiarising a child with gardening you’ll be giving them the kind of hands on education that is second to none. You can also rest assured when they’re older and tending their own gardens they will forever thank you for giving them the experience.