Check out these 2 great articles in the Austin American Statesman:
Youth gardening plants the seed for a great life
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2015 @ 4:23pm
By Mark Payne
Picking carrots for our morning snack. | Ben Harnden
Youth gardening plants the seed for a great life
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2015 @ 4:23pm
By Mark Payne
Picking carrots for our morning snack. | Ben Harnden
"There are many things children can learn from gardening, including an appreciation of where and how foods grow to their impact on the environment.
In Austin, this is a great time to get started with involving your children in your gardening plans.
Ben Harnden, the co-founder of Austin Children’s Garden, which is a nature-based preschool with organic gardening and healthy cooking as integral parts of the education, sees a lot of benefits for youth who garden.
“We see improved mood, less conflict between the children, and more cooperative behavior when the children are outside and engaged in meaningful activity,” he says.
Harnden also believes gardening can help children with math. For instance, he said to have them count the number of plants and measure the space between plants, which gives them a practical approach to math.
They can also gain science skills as they learn about life cycles and seasons of the year, including understanding the patterns of the sun. They can learn language arts skills by using both English and Latin to identify plants. They can also learn art skills by making collages and other craft projects.
“Children love to care for the plants,” Harnden says. “Gardening inspires the children to be gentle and they become aware of plants as living organisms.”
Austin American Statesman
In Austin, this is a great time to get started with involving your children in your gardening plans.
Ben Harnden, the co-founder of Austin Children’s Garden, which is a nature-based preschool with organic gardening and healthy cooking as integral parts of the education, sees a lot of benefits for youth who garden.
“We see improved mood, less conflict between the children, and more cooperative behavior when the children are outside and engaged in meaningful activity,” he says.
Harnden also believes gardening can help children with math. For instance, he said to have them count the number of plants and measure the space between plants, which gives them a practical approach to math.
They can also gain science skills as they learn about life cycles and seasons of the year, including understanding the patterns of the sun. They can learn language arts skills by using both English and Latin to identify plants. They can also learn art skills by making collages and other craft projects.
“Children love to care for the plants,” Harnden says. “Gardening inspires the children to be gentle and they become aware of plants as living organisms.”
Austin American Statesman
