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A recent study commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society has shown that gardening does far more for children than simply teaching them important lessons about nature. Getting in touch with the environment, it seems, also helps children to do better in other areas of their education, and to generally become happier and more balanced people. That sounds like reason enough to get growing…

Digging in

The study showed that much of the value of gardening for schoolchildren was its ability to bring out their practical side. As they really got involved, their problem-solving skills increased – and it’s for this reason that planting flowers and vegetables can help with skills as different as maths and literacy.

The health benefits

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Less surprising is the fact that gardening is beneficial to a child’s health. It’s not just being out there in the fresh air that helps, but also the fact that gardening provides a great opportunity to teach children about health and nutrition. The best part for parents of fussy eaters? Children are far more willing to eat their vegetables if they’ve grown them themselves. Meanwhile, children also learn patience waiting for their crops to grow, and become less afraid of new experiences.

Getting them growing

While the study focused on gardening at schools, there are plenty of ways to get your children gardening at home if their school doesn’t include it as part of the curriculum. Check out the BBC Dig In scheme for information on gardening for beginners, even with a small amount of space, and invest in some basic gardening tools for your little ones. In a few weeks you should be able to look forward to having happier children, and having a few home-grown vegetables as an added bonus.

Tags: children, gardening, gardening tools