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Your Children and the Environment
In todays world we see
flagrant disregard for the environment that nurtures
us as human beings. Sadly, ignoring what is happening
is having a profound effect on our children.
What can we do about this? We can encourage
our children to view the world around us in a different
way by introducing children's involvement with environment-friendly
activities. One such nature-loving activity that children
could easily understand and enjoy is gardening. Why
should you consider gardening for your children?
Here are some of the ways your children
will benefit by gardening:
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
Watching a seed grow into a tree is
just as wondrous as the conception to birth and growth
of a child. In time, kids will learn to love their plants
and appreciate the life in them. Gardening could actually
help simulate how life 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.
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.
Here are eight tips for getting your
kids to enjoy home gardening:
Dirt has always been one of the kids'
best toys, so home gardening could just be one fun activity
for your children. Excite them by allowing them to pick
whichever plant they want to grow. Here are some tips
to help you make your little ones become enthusiastic
with home gardening.
1. Choose the right plants
Kids will more likely choose plants
and flowers with bright colors, so have a load of varieties
of plants. Examples of bright flowers are zinnias and
cosmos; these will keep your children fascinated. Don't
forget the sunflowers. Anything that is tall and fuzzy
will surely overwhelm a kid. Make sure these plants
will not cause any allergic reactions from your kid.
2. Starting seeds
Give your children the freedom to help
you with the staring seeds. Some seeds might be too
small for the tiny fingers, but their digits can be
of help in covering them with dirt.
3. Home Gardening Memoir
To last the kids' enthusiasm until the
plants grow, make them create a home gardening journal.
This activity will allow them to use their imagination
to sketch on what the plants will be like and write
down when they placed in the ground the seeds and when
they first witnessed a sprout pushing up.
4. Make sure that the garden is somewhere
very visible for the kids.
Before you start home gardening, pick
a spot where the kids often play or walk by. Every time
they see and pass by their garden, the more they will
sight changes.
5. Dirt playing
Always remember that children are fond
of playing with dirt or mud. They can help you ready
the soil, even if what they are only doing is stomping
on the clumps. To make home gardening with the kids
more fun, you can provide them with kid-sized tools
to make home gardening very engaging for them.
6. Your kids own the garden
A picture of each plant will enable
the children to foresee what the flowers will look like.
You can also put your child's name on a placard, so
everyone can see that it's their garden.
7. Playing with the water
Playing with water is right up there
with playing with dirt. Look for a small watering can
that they can use to water their garden. You can show
them how to let the water go right to the roots of the
plants. Hoses want only trouble. They are simply formidable
for little hands to control.
8. Kids commit mistakes
Adults, too, are sometimes impatient.
Give the kids full control to their garden. If they
create a mess, let it be, it's their mess. Allow them
to get pleasure from it and take dignity in their own
piece of territory. Just don't forget to tell them how
to clean up that mess.
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