Dig This:
10
BIG BENEFITS OF
GARDENING WITH KIDS
By Janeen Lewis
M
ost parents want their children to get outside away from
phones, TV and video games, and gardening is a great way
to achieve this goal. However, recent research shows that
there are several other reasons to start a garden with kids. The
benefits range from making kids smarter to making them healthier.
Here are 10 great reasons to get kids gardening:
1. Students who garden score higher on science tests.
Gardening is full of science. Children learn about plant
classification, weather, soil, and plant pests and disease. They
are introduced to botany in a natural, hands-on way, and recent
research shows that students who had gardening experiences as
part of their school curriculum did better on standardized science
tests than students who were not exposed to gardening in school.
2. If they grow it, they will eat it.
As a teacher, I’ve taught STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering
and Math) and have served as a Junior Master Garden club leader.
In these roles, I witnessed the "if they grow it, they will eat it"
phenomenon. Students love to dig up what they have grown, and
then curiosity gets the better of them – they want to taste it.
Master Gardener Beth Tovi volunteered to mentor students in the
garden for eight years at the elementary school where she served
as a media specialist. She sees the nutritional and health benefits
children gain from gardening.
“With the growing concerns about obesity, diabetes, and even high
blood pressure in children, gardening gets them physically active
and outdoors. And children will eat anything they grow – even if
it’s green.”
V O L U S I A parent M A G A Z I N E | 9