|
In time, kids will understand that gardening
requires a good deal of intelligence, skill,
prayer, work and due diligence. Help them learn
how to love their plants and appreciate the life
in them. Gardening will help simulate how life
itself should be treated -- it should be with
care. The necessities to live will be emphasized
to kids with the help of gardening - water,
sunlight, air, soil. Those necessities could
easily be corresponded to human necessities,
i.e., water, shelter, air, food. By simply
weeding out, one could educate how bad
influences should be avoided to be able to live
life smoothly. Apparently, we can see how
nature is treated these days. It is a sad thing
to know that people do not pay attention so much
anymore to the environmental problems. What can
we do about this? It's as simple as starting
with the children. It is good to see the
children's involvement with environment-friendly
activities. One such nature-loving activity that
children could easily get their hands on is
gardening. Why should you consider gardening for
your children?
Here are the benefits that gardening could
easily provide the children with:
1. Science
In planting, children are indirectly taught the
wonders of science like the plant's life cycle
and how human's intervention can break or make
the environment. They can have a first hand
experience on the miracle of life through a
seed. This would definitely be a new and
enjoyable experience for the kids.
2. Life
Introduce your child to the miracle of life;
show them how precious life is. Explain
how light from the sun is used. Tell them
what effects the current weather can produce.
Remind your child about the stages of life that
are happening in the garden as the seasons
develop. "Just as children need a comfortable
home to live in our plants need -- "
3. Relaxation
Studies show that gardening can reduce stress
because of its calming effect. This is
applicable to any age group. More so, it
stimulates all the five senses. Believe it or
not, gardening may be used as therapy to
children who have been abused or those who are
members of broken homes. It helps build one's
self-esteem.
4. Quality Time with the Family
You can forget about your stressful work life
for a while be soothed by the lovely ambience in
the garden. You can play and spend quality time
with your children. You can talk while watering
the plants or you can work quietly beside each
other. The bottom line is, always do what you
have to do, together with your kids. You might
discover a lot of new things about your child
while mingling with them in your garden.
Let kids become aware of their environment's
needs. And one way to jumpstart that
environmental education may be through
gardening. It's hitting two birds with one stone
-- teach them to respect life while you bond
with them.
|
