According to the Better Health Channel website, children can learn new skills, have fun, play and develop self-confidence by spending time in the garden tending plants and growing their own food.
Most children enjoy being outdoors and love digging in the soil, getting dirty, creating things and watching plants grow. Children learn from growing things. People of all ages can enjoy gardening but children, in particular, will have lots of fun and gain special benefits. Gardening is educational and develops new skills including:
- Responsibility - from caring for and tending plants.
- Understanding - as they learn about cause and effect (for example, plants die without water, weeds compete with plants etc).
- Self confidence - from achieving their goals and enjoying the food they have grown.
- Love of nature - a chance to learn about the outdoor environment in a safe and pleasant place.
- Reasoning and discovery - as they learn about science, botany, nutrition and simple construction.
- Physical activity - that is fun and productive.
- Cooperation - including shared play activity and teamwork.
- Creativity - finding new and exciting ways to grow food.
- Nutrition - learning about sources of fresh food.
So plan on gardening with your kids next spring and to make it more fun buy them these absolutely cute watering cans and gardening sets from Insect Lore. The gardening set includes kneeling pad, kid's gloves, hand shovel and hand cultivator. You can choose from Dot Ladybug, Webster Spider, Buzzby Bee, Flutter Butterfly, or Manny Mantis. Each one is more cute than the other.
I'll tell you more about Insect Lore's science toys and materials tomorrow.
Mara
Posted
Nov 19 2008, 10:09 PM
by
Let Kids Play!!