Summer is the perfect time to get out and about with your kids. And what better way to do that than to get busy in the garden? Gardening with your kids provides the perfect combination of skills and tasks to address your little ones’ development.

What planting a garden can teach your kids this summer

The benefits of gardening 

Kids can have fun, learn new skills, play, and develop a sense of self-confidence by spending time outdoors growing plants and harvesting their own food. Here are a few benefits of starting a garden with your kids: 

• It promotes fine motor development

From picking up tiny seeds to gently caring for plants, gardening stimulates the development of fine motor skills every step of the way.

• It engages the senses 

Sensory development is very important for kids of all ages. Gardening is the perfect activity to stimulate all the senses. Let your kids feel the dirt between their fingers, smell different plants and hear the insects and birds all around. 

• It encourages healthy eating

One of the most exciting ways to get your kids to try different veggies is to allow them to grow the plants themselves. Even the pickiest eaters won’t resist a variety of greens from their very own plants! 

• It offers moderate exercise

Gardening can be a surprisingly physical activity. Tasks such as raking, digging, and turning compost use a variety of muscles in the body, and can teach kids a pattern of healthy activity.

• It teaches responsibility

Plants need a lot of attention. You can create a schedule for watering and cleaning up the garden every day to help your kids get into a routine and take responsibility. 

•  It develops important STEM abilities

Gardening can exercise important reasoning, planning and organization skills. And for even further development, you can work on math and science skills by encouraging your kids to observe their plants’ life cycles.

Start gardening today and reap the benefits! 

Gardening is one of the most beneficial activities for promoting well-rounded development in kids. Whether the garden is in pots on your balcony, a community area or in your own backyard, kids who interact with it are harvesting so much more than just flowers.

If you’re interested in starting nature journaling together with creating your new garden, check our nature curriculum NaturExplorers  and Exploring Nature with Children.