The Garden as a Natural Classroom

Photo by Pink Sherbet

I think one of the reasons that kids take easily to gardening is that there’s always surprising things happening in the garden. Seasonal changes bring unexpected events such as volunteers (unexpected plants) and fascinating creatures like praying mantises and the bright green chrysalises of Monarch butterflies. They’ll find plants that have burst into bloom overnight, and the tiny beginnings of what will be Halloween pumpkins (have kids measure pumpkins day after day to see the amazing growth in just one night).

Photo by pondhawk

Gardening teaches problem-solving as in the case of discovering insects have been munching on their plant leaves or vegetables. What kind of damage has been done? What other clues can they find that might lead to knowing exactly what bug is on the attack? If you guide them, they’ll be able to find safe, effective solutions that are more earth-friendly than the solutions of generations past.

Other child-friendly gardening practices include wildlife gardens. If your child is an animal lover – this includes bugs, birds, and furry critters – you can help them plant a wildlife garden. This is a project that can be taken a step further by helping your child fulfill certain requirements for your yard to become a Backyard Wildlife Habitat.

Creating gardens with kids can be a jump-off point for other lifetime hobbies such as cooking, photography and community service. If a child has a vegetable garden, they can be encouraged to plant an extra row of veggies to bring to the local food bank at harvest time. This particular project brings awareness of hunger issues and the lesson lasts a lifetime.

In the garden you’ll find lessons in responsibility, observation, record-keeping, problem solving, math, science, sustainability, self-sufficiency, community, accomplishment and pride. These are all key ingredients to growing happy and healthy young people into creative and caring adults.

In the garden, you may start off as the guide, but the plants and the soil become your child’s teacher. When you garden with your kids, there’s much more going on here than just planting and watering.