For children, repetitive tasks like watering, weeding and planting can calm their minds and offer respite from academic and social challenges. Photos: Dr Jasmin Arif Shah
In an era dominated by screens and gadgets, connecting children to nature has become more crucial than ever. Gardening has emerged as a simple yet powerful solution that offers numerous benefits for children’s mental health and wellbeing. This hands-on activity not only enhances self-confidence and reduces stress but also serves as an ideal hobby for the tech-savvy Gen Z.
Benefits of gardening for children
Gardening provides children with a unique opportunity to care for plants and witness their growth, fostering a sense of achievement and responsibility. This boosts self-esteem, as they see the tangible results of their hard work from planting seeds to harvesting produce.
Moreover, gardening offers a calming retreat from daily pressure. Research has extensively documented the soothing effects of nature, with exposure to green spaces proving to be an effective way of reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation. For children, the garden provides a tranquil setting where repetitive tasks like watering, weeding and planting can calm their minds and offer respite from academic and social challenges.
Gardening provides children with a unique opportunity to care for plants and witness their growth, fostering a sense of achievement and responsibility.
Community gardens: A growing trend
Malaysia’s Klang Valley showcases inspiring examples of community gardens, such as Kebun Komuniti Putrajaya Presint 9, Laman Kebun Seri Bangi, Kebun-Kebun Bangsar and Kebun Komuniti Presint 14. These gardens have attracted families and young people to gardening activities. For parents in urban areas with limited space, community gardens provide an excellent opportunity to introduce their children to the joy and benefits of gardening.
Creating a successful home food garden
Parents can set up a food garden for their children through the following steps:
1. Engage children in planning: Discuss which foods they are interested in growing and learn to spark curiosity and engagement.
2. Let children choose: Allow them to select their favourite flowers, vegetables or herbs to plant.
3. Gather supplies: Collect basic materials such as soil, seeds, pots or containers, and child-friendly gardening tools.
4. Involve children in the process: Encourage participation in gardening activities, such as planting, watering, weeding and harvesting.
5. Incorporate education: Use the garden as a platform for STEM learning, incorporating science, math, literacy and cooking activities.
For parents in urban areas with limited space, community gardens provide an excellent opportunity to introduce their children to the joy and benefits of gardening.
Creative garden projects and activities
To make gardening more enjoyable and educational for children, consider the following activities:
1. DIY garden markers: Create personalised plant identifiers using rocks, sticks or recycled materials.
2. Build a bug hotel: Construct a habitat for beneficial insects using twigs, leaves and pine cones.
3. Create a miniature garden: Design a small-scale garden with tiny plants, figurines and fairy houses to spark the imagination.
4. Teach composting: Educate children about creating natural fertilisers from kitchen scrap and garden waste.
5. Organise a garden scavenger hunt: Develop a list of plants, insects and garden tools for children to find and learn.
6. Make bird feeders: Craft feeders from recycled materials to attract birds to the garden.
7. Nature crafts: Engage in activities such as leaf rubbings, flower pressings or creating natural collages.
8. Personalise plant pots: Paint and decorate flower pots for a unique gardening experience.
9. Harvest and cook: Involve children in picking ripe produce, and then wash and prepare it for meals.
From garden to table
Educate children on incorporating homegrown vegetables into simple recipes. Engage them in washing, preparing and cooking the produce. This hands-on experience strengthens their understanding of the farm-to-table concept and instills a sense of pride in cooking meals from their garden. Making salads, stir-fries or homemade fried rice with fresh garden vegetables can be fun and rewarding activities.
Fostering a love for nature
By establishing an accessible food garden, parents can nurture their children’s interest in nature, nutrition and the origin of their food while supporting holistic development and wellbeing. Providing observation journals allows children to draw pictures, write notes and track plant growth, making gardening both enjoyable and educational.
Gardening enhances mental health and teaches valuable life skills, helping parents instill a love for nature and the environment, setting the foundation for a healthier, more sustainable future.
Dr Jasmin Arif Shah is a senior lecturer at the Department of Agriculture Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Her expertise is in communication and agriculture extension.
