Home Gardening Safety Tips For Children

Introduction

Gardening is a wonderful way of returning to the revitalizing lap of nature. Be it in a niche balcony garden or a homely backyard one, exposure to plants and nature always brings a sense of serenity and comfort to plant lovers and gardening enthusiasts. And after spending a grueling day at school or work, nothing feels as good as some time alone with plants, herbs, and flowers. Often, watering and tending to tender buds and fruits brings solace to a disturbed mind in kids and adults alike. Gardening is an activity that teaches children a lot of natural science while helping teach mathematics and geometry to kinesthetic learners (children who prefer to learn by hands-on experience). It also helps modern-day kids get some much-needed fresh air and vitamin D from the sun. As work and study pressure is mounting by the day, it is ideal to involve your kids in gardening to develop healthy habits and a soothing coping mechanism for stress. But it is important to do it right and in a safe manner. As the outdoors remains the realm of the natural world, ranging from birds and plants, to insects, and small creatures, it is vital to remain vigilant, especially with young children. Here are some quick home gardening safety tips for children to follow and adults to maintain to ensure a happy and healthy gardening venture.

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Safety Tips For Children Gardening At Home

1. Appropriate Attire And Mindset

If your house has a moderate-to-large size garden, then it is important for children, especially young ones, to go out in proper attire. A casual stroll is one thing, but if they are to engage in gardening, it is important to wear the right kind of clothes and shoes to keep them safe. Make sure your kids wear covered shoes or boots with proper grip and slightly loose clothes comprising long-sleeved tops and full pants. This will keep them safe from skin irritation or major interaction with insects. Prepare them mentally for their venture into nature; be fun but careful.

2. Awareness, Alertness, And First-Aid

Kids need to be alert and aware of their surroundings in nature. Gardens often include small livestock or creatures in their natural habitat. So, as humans, it is important to take care that the kids do not disturb them unless they are friendly or tame. Also, help your kids identify which fruits, seeds, and roots are edible and which are not by pointing out their respective physical and geographical distinctions. This will help them stay safe in any emergency in the garden or any natural habitat. Also, when gardening with young kids, keep a first-aid kit nearby. Teach them basic first aid in this manner while keeping one another safe.

3. Nourishment And Hydration Is Vital

Since it is summertime, gardening in lush greenery can be both soothing and sweat inducing, depending on climate and geography. And residing in the tropical zone of the earth does not help the cause either. As a result, parents must ensure their kids are properly hydrated and nourished before taking them gardening. Gardening in the sun, while dehydrated or on an empty stomach can lead to heat stroke, nausea, upset stomach, or loss of consciousness in kids.

4. Timing, Breaks, And Shade

To reap the maximum benefits of gardening, it is wise to choose timing carefully. Avoid engaging between 11 am to 3 pm, preferring to garden early morning or late afternoon, instead. This will also improve your kid’s vitamin D levels and keep them healthy. Also, take breaks in the shade during long gardening sessions. Drink some homemade lemonade to feel refreshed, rest for a few minutes, and continue doing the good work.

5. Create A Nature Journal

It is ideal to teach your curious kids to create and maintain a nature journal. All the information you teach them can be drawn, written, printed, and stuck in them in an aesthetic yet useful manner. They will always have the journal to return to when they need to figure out a particular fruit, vegetable, flower, or insect, as it will end up becoming a treasure trove of botany.

6. Maintain Hygiene

Since the garden is also home to a microscopic universe of germs, bacteria, and creatures, it is of utmost significance for kids to maintain proper hygiene and wash hands, feet, and their faces well after spending time in the garden. It is also ideal to wear gloves when dealing with manure, compost, or transplanting. Do not let your kids trudge about in those gardening shoes and clothes throughout the house. Make them remove them and get into the bathroom first, before doing anything else, to maintain their health.

Conclusion

Gardening is an excellent hobby for young children to engage in. It not only teaches them botany, geography, and math but also inculcates empathy and mindfulness in them. It is ideal to let children garden daily or on alternate days at home while maintaining the above home gardening safety tips and guidelines.