Why you should get kids gardening

Getting outdoors can help kids (and adults) to shake off any stress or overwhelm and calm our senses. Add to the equation a few seeds, some gardening tools and the freedom to get a little dirty, and those benefits are amplified.

Occupational therapist and Professional Development Lead at the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, Kate Beckwith, chats about how gardening can be a grounding force in our children's lives.

Freedom and autonomy

There's no denying that the last few years have been rough. Between lockdowns, natural disaster, and general uncertainity—we've all had a lot to process.

While some children may not be able to articulate their personal experience in an uncertain world, in the garden, they're given the chance to address setbacks by taking back the reins. Children can make a plan, take action and feel in control: “I’ve got a seed. I can help it to grow.”

Time spent in the garden, particularly through structured learning activities, offers children an opportunity to take agency, fostering an “I can” attitude and mentality.

Gardening can give young people the chance to learn that good things can come from hard work and the passing of time, and that they can be a part of the solution.

Movement and light labour

Talk to any gardener and they'll confirm that gardening = exercise. The garden provides blissful opportunities to be active while connecting tactile experiences and hands-on actions. From a therapeutic point of view, movement is important for wellbeing. Stretching and compressing your joints while you bend and lift sends calming messages to the brain that also help to regulate muscle tone and improve posture.

As kids increasingly spend more time learning at desks and playing on computers or devices, these important physical movements are being compromised. Help reset their growing bodies by encouraging them to move freely in the garden while physically adapting to seasonal changes. For example, soil in the summertime can be a little bit harder (and hotter) to dig up.

Slowing down and reflecting

Gardens provide a plethora of opportunities for mindfulness.

I was recently chatting with an amazing colleague who reminded me that often, we’re not privy to everything that's going on in our children's lives. They may have had a tearful moment behind closed doors or a bad experience in the playground, but when they enter a learning experience based in the garden, they can take a moment to feel the wind in their hair or the sun on their backs and be present in the here and now. This skill, to reset after unwelcome experiences, is something they can draw on for the rest of their lives.

5 mindful gardening activities to try at home:

Activities that connect young people with their senses are great for their wellbeing. Here are some ideas to try at home.

• Windows to the world: Collect four twigs and find a spot on the ground to place the twigs into a square window shape. Sit beside the window, and over the next 10 minutes, observe what moves through the frame. Perhaps you’ll discover a trail of ants, some burrowing worms, a ladybug, or something chasing that ladybug. This activity activates children’s curiosity and might even provide an absolute revelation about a once-ordinary spot in the garden that is actually brimming with life.
• Look up: Stop and notice the weather and how it affects the garden. Talk about how the mood of the weather can be applied to our bodies, our thoughts, and our feelings. For example, “When it’s hot, I feel like my strength is melting – I try to walk in the shade and work slowly to stay cool." Or, "When it’s windy, my thoughts and words feel scattered – I need to try to keep focused on my task."
• Adopt a plant: On a walk through a public garden or park, ask children to adopt a plant and check on it throughout the seasons. They might like to start a journal or a sketchbook to record the plant’s changes and document how seasonal conditions nurture the plant over the course of a year.
• Scent test: Lay out a selection of herbs and let kids take a turn to crush, smell and identify each one. Ask them what they think it would taste well with. This test activates the senses and sparks their curiosity. It also encourages conversation, sharing and creative thinking. For instance, “I love to put fresh mint in my water bottle. What would you do with it on a hot day?”
• Insect tour: Find an insect and follow it! This simple activity is about allowing something to take you in an unexpected direction. It encourages children to carve out time to respond to a short journey through the garden with your mind, your body and your feelings.

//

Keen to learn more about establishing a kitchen garden at your child's school or early childhood? Learn more and download a free recipe booklet from the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation.

Photo by Lisa Sorgini for Lunch Lady Magazine.