There are many advantages to gardening. We love beautiful flowers and edible crops. Some plants are good for hiding ugly features. Other bushes and shrubs can be used around perimeters and fences as hedges. Trees are good for attracting bird life and a great source of fun for the kids. They can climb trees and build tree houses, but did you ever think how beneficial your garden can be for educating the children?

We can all see how badly nature is treated these days.  It is a sad thing to know that people do not pay much attention 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 get interested in, is gardening. Why should you consider gardening for your children? With a little guidance, children will thrive on the satisfaction of rearing their own plants and identifying insects and birds.

Here are the benefits that gardening could easily provide the children with:

1.  Science

By planting something, children are indirectly taught the wonders of science, like the plant’s life cycle and how human’s intervention can help or destroy the environment.  They can gain 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, 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 to simulate how life should be treated - with care.

The necessities of life will be emphasized to kids, with the help of gardening. They will learn about water, sunlight, air, soil and so much more. Those necessities could be compared to human necessities, like water, shelter, air, food.  By simply weeding the garden bed, one could educate them on how bad influences should be avoided, to be able to live life smoothly.

3.  Relaxation

Studies have been conducted to 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.  Hone their senses of seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting.

Believe it or not, gardening is often used as therapy, to children who have been abused, or those who are members of broken homes.  It helps build one’s self esteem and teaches them to nurture and appreciate. 

4.  Quality Time with the Family

You can forget about your stressful work life for a while and 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 children, while mingling with them in your garden. 

And let us not forget the pets. Children love pets. Whether it is a bird, a rabbit, a mouse, a dog, a cat it is the same. Pets enjoy the garden too and most will appreciate tidbits grown in the garden. Let the kids grow seed, lettuce, fruit or something their pets will enjoy.

Let kids become aware of their environment’s needs. And one way to jumpstart that environmental education, is through gardening.  It’s a case of killing two birds with one stone, as you teach them to respect life, while you are bonding with them.

The kids may not understand the technical nature of most gardening books, but this is a lain, simple beginners guide. Get “First Garden Mastery - How To Grow Your First Garden” and discover how a complete gardening failure learned how to grow the beautiful garden of his dreams. You also get “Free Beginners Guide To Gardening Mini Course” and 5 Red Hot Garden Guides For Free, when you buy the book. Take a look here: http://www.dersalsites.com/gardeningtips/prod/newbiegard/

Sally Robson is a South African Internet marketer, who together with her husband Derek, have a vision of empowering all fellow South Africans and other non U.S folk, to have equal opportunity and success on the internet, by overcoming the many obstacles facing them. They have started a string of sites, resources, courses and articles, as part of Dersalsites. Sally has a passion for gardening. For more articles and advice on gardening topics, visit Sally at: http://www.dersalsites.com/sallysgardeningtips/

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