There’s something truly special about watching a child witness nature firsthand. From digging their small fingers into the dirt, planting a tiny seed, and watching that little seed sprout and come to life—getting to share the wonder of nature with them is nothing short of magical. It goes way beyond pretty flowers and home-grown vegetables, gardening with preschoolers is a powerful, hands-on learning experience for their early childhood education.
Witnessing and being part of nature is something we value dearly here at Clover Hill Children’s Center. Come check out our beautiful outdoor spaces and chat about how we incorporate nature into learning.
Considering a garden this Spring? Let’s dig into the research-backed reasons explaining the benefits of gardening with your preschooler at home, childcare, or daycare.
1.
Growing Young Minds
Research confirms that gardening aids in the development of early science and math skills in preschoolers. Gardening provides the opportunity to learn about life cycles, weather, organisms, measurement, and so much more —all through playful discovery. According to the Early Childhood Education Journal, gardening enhances early STEM understanding by allowing kids to observe, predict, and question the world around them in real time (Source). Within the garden children have a unique opportunity to truly observe and pay close attention to their world.
We love to encourage STEM learning early here at Clover Hill. Schedule a tour today and come see what we have planned.
2. Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits
A child who grows broccoli is more likely to try broccoli. It’s a simple fact.
A study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that preschoolers involved in gardening programs were significantly more likely to eat fruits and vegetables than their non-gardening peers (Source). Struggling with a picky eater? Having them be a part of the growing process might just be the ticket for encouraging some eating diversity! Make them part of the planning and planting and as you wait for your harvest, take the time to look up and get excited about new recipes to try with your home-grown produce!
Nutrition is the fuel for all the growth these little ones are doing, and we don’t take it lightly here at Clover Hill. Call today to chat about what’s cooking!
3. Boosting Emotional Wellness
Spending time in nature is a huge mood booster for both children and adults—even going so far as to help lower stress! Gardening, in particular, has been linked to better emotional regulation, reduced anxiety, and increased patience in young children (National Wildlife Federation). This can be a calm, sensory rich experience to help them manage big feelings and take pride in the work of their hands.
Outside time is essential to any daycare of childcare facility and itis no different for us here at Clover Hill. Schedule a tour to see our loverly outdoor areas.
4. Building Responsibility and Cooperation
Gardening takes work. Putting children in charge of watering, checking on seedlings, pulling weeds and in general tending the garden gives them a natural and age-appropriate way to learn accountability and hard work. They must work together to take turns, share tools, and work towards a common goal—largely working on cooperation. Within early childhood education this is foundational in developing the social skills they need to not simply grow into little learners, but into members of society and as a part of a community. This also gives these little people the opportunity to take pride in the something they have worked hard to accomplish.
Early childhood education is not simply about learning numbers and letters; there is so much more! Here at Clover Hill Children’s Center, we are constantly working with a greater goal in mind–to help children develop and grow in their social and emotional intelligence as well.
5. It’s Physical (and Fun!)
Preschoolers need movement. Not want, need. Anyone who has ever spent an hour with a preschooler knows this deeply. Digging, squatting, planting, pulling and watering provide excellent physical outlets that strengthen both gross and fine motor skills…and also gets out a little energy as a bonus. This type of work aligns beautifully with their early childhood development.
Not to mention it’s fun. Watching worms wriggle, feeling the warmth of the soil in their hands, and seeing something sprout from a seed? Total preschool joy.
Encouraging movement, outdoor play, and nature exploration is essential to any early childhood education. Call today to schedule a tour; We’d love to show you how we put all this learning into practice here at Clover Hill.
Let the garden and the children grow
The flowers are lovely, and the vegetables are delicious, but the true beauty of a garden well-tended with the help of little hands is the growth within that child or children. Does it take a bit more time to garden with small children? Yes. Do the benefits outweigh the inconveniences? 1000 times, yes. It plants a seed of curiosity, appreciation for nature, general wellness, and lifelong learning. Whether it’s a backyard garden, potted windowsill herbs, or even a community garden, giving children the opportunity to connect with and be part of nature is a huge gift we can give to their development.
Grab a shovel, pick some seeds together, get in the dirt and watch both your garden and your little one grow.
Want to learn more about the learning opportunities, curriculum, and outdoor spaces here at Clover Hill Children’s Center? Come for a visit: we’d love to share what we do and show you where the learning happens!