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Community Corner

Kids Dig Gardening

Gardening is a fun activity children enjoy and can learn from.

Gardening can be a very therapeutic activity for young and old. Children seem to marvel in the magical way a seed germinates and grows into a plant. Creating a garden with your child, even a small one, can foster a respect for nature. Gardening can be a shared activity with which you can both reap the fruitful benefits of.

Vegetable gardens are even more interesting to children, since their contributions and patience can yield actual edible gifts. Even if you don’t have a large backyard or green space, you can still plot a small area for vegetables or flowers. We have allotted a small ground space in our backyard for a veggie garden. Right now we have a tomato plant, bell pepper, zucchini and a small bean plant that Kaila started growing in her preschool classroom. We have also harvested pumpkins in the fall, but these require a lot more space. If you don’t have an area for a dedicated vegetable garden, you can use a planter or pot to grow herbs or strawberries on your porch or balcony.

By caring for plants and flowers, children can learn the lessons of patience, and being consistent in caring for their sprouts instills a sense of nurture. For most kids, digging in the soil is plenty fun and the extra reward of an organic fruit or vegetable to pick and eat in the following weeks will allow them to see the outcome of their dedication.  Kaila also loves to water the garden. She has a little watering can that she lovingly uses to sprinkle upon the plants.

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Planting from seed allows children to learn about the entire life cycle. Some easier choices to start off with are large-seeded beans, sunflowers and avocados. Children can learn to appreciate the environment, and gardening can show them how nature works as a whole as they encounter ladybugs, earthworms, birds, snails and bees performing their jobs within the garden.

For an alternative to sitting at home playing video games, take your child to the local nursery and let her or him pick out a small plant or packet of seeds. Getting outside this spring can also help you distress and help you and your kids take in that recommended vitamin E. Outside play is so important for children, and incorporating the natural wonders of our mother Earth will teach them to appreciate and respect all things living.

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Creating a garden can also yield inspiration for other hobbies like photography, cooking, baking, painting or drawing. So, grab a shovel and dig in!

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