Gardening?

-its childs play

William Wordsworth once said, ‘Let nature be your teacher.’ He was just one of the many scholars of his time who believed that nature was therapeutic for the soul and provided an abundance of lessons – especially for children. If the benefits of gardening include sustained health, fresh air and exercise, as we’ve been told time and time again, doesn’t it make sense to get children involved at as young an age as possible?

Quite aside from the obvious health benefits of being outside and active in the fresh air, getting your child involved in a hobby like gardening at a young age sets the stage for a lifetime of respect and appreciation for nature and the environment. Through gardening, children will learn about how a seed transforms itself into a flower or how water makes a garden grow – the science lessons that can be found in the garden are endless.

In an age where children spend time alone playing on game consoles, using the internet and watching TV, gardening is a quiet and peaceful hobby, free of the distractions found inside the home. It provides the opportunity for parent and child to be alone to talk and listen to one another – an occasion that just can’t happen often enough.

Gardening does not produce instantaneous results, even in Cyprus where growth speed is exceptionally fast – it needs time, nutrients and water to grow – so it’s an enjoyable way for children to learn patience and responsibility. Not only will getting children interested in gardening at an early age set the stage for a lifelong hobby, it pays off in the short-term as well. Researchers have found that children who plant and grow their own fruit and vegetables are far more willing to eat them - which is good news for all parents of children who think that if it’s good for you, it must taste horrid!

Gillian Hudson