Spring has sprung at our beautiful Australian Education and Care Centre and we are so excited to have the children get their hands dirty in our garden! While we get our garden back up and running after a cold winter we wanted to share with everyone the amazing benefits gardening can have on children's learning and development. The benefits will amaze you!
At Kids Oasis we facilitate two gardens, the front and the back garden. Each get the love, care and attention they need from the children in our care and in return the children learn the following...
Educational Opportunities: Gardening teaches children about the natural world, plant life cycles, and the environment. It can
also enhance their knowledge of science, biology, and ecology.
Physical Activity: Gardening encourages physical activity as children dig, plant, weed, and water. It promotes fine and gross motor skill development.
Healthy Eating Habits: Gardening can foster an appreciation for fresh fruits and vegetables, potentially leading to healthier eating habits as children witness the growth and harvest of their own produce.
Connection to Nature: Gardening helps children connect with nature, fostering a sense of wonder and respect for the environment. It can also reduce stress and anxiety.
Responsibility: Caring for plants requires responsibility and commitment, helping
children develop a sense of accountability and patience.
Creativity: Gardening allows for creativity through designing, planning, and arranging plants and flowers in various ways.
Social Skills: Collaborative gardening projects promote teamwork and communication among children, enhancing their social skills.
Environmental Awareness: Gardening can instill an understanding of sustainability and the importance of taking care of the planet.
Sensory Exploration: Gardening engages all the senses – sight, touch, smell, taste, and even hearing (the sound of rustling leaves or chirping birds), aiding in sensory development.
Learning from Failure: Gardening teaches
resilience as children learn that not all plants thrive, providing opportunities to learn from failures and try again.
Enhanced Learning: It complements classroom learning by offering a hands-on, practical application of concepts like math (measuring soil and plant growth), biology (observing plant development), and environmental science.
Aesthetic Appreciation: Gardening allows children to appreciate beauty in nature, fostering an aesthetic sensibility.
Although here at Kids Oasis we may not call ourselves the gardening experts, we certainly have and continue to see these amazing benefits in children through the use of our garden. Their pride and excitement at the first strawberry of the season or the first apple on the tree in irreplaceable... Hopefully you have room for a garden too! Even if only a small one every little experience with nature counts!