Using Gardening To Teach Kids About Seasons And Weather

Written by Kaushiki Gangully

Published: November 28, 2024

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Ways In Which Gardening Impacts Children’s Sleep Patterns

Ensures Release Of Restless Energy
Exposes To Fresh Air And Sunlight
Inculcates Mindfulness
Chases Stress Away
Supports The Circadian Rhythm In Kids

Tips To Inculcate Gardening In Kids For Better Sleep

Conclusion

Introduction

Gardening is a highly beneficial outdoor activity for kids. It teaches them a wide range of subjects, from basic math like counting and geometry to natural sciences like biology and botany to life skills like time management. It also ensures your kids remain fit and strong while getting adequate sunlight exposure.

Gardening has an incredible lowering effect on the stress and anxiety levels in kids. But the best thing about it remains its ability to teach kids in an appealing and interactive manner. Children are kinesthetic learners by nature, aka those who prefer hands-on learning experiences, so gardening is ideal for them.

This outdoor activity is also perfect for getting your kids to put down their devices and step out to learn about seasons and weather first-hand. But how will parents make the best use of gardening to teach kids about seasons and weather? Read on to find out.

Gardening And Climate - Understanding The Link

Mother Nature is a spectacular being. She has left hints for every occurrence in nature; one only needs to observe and learn. From knowing when an earthquake is coming to identifying changes in soil nutrition, everything can be observed and learned if one knows where to look at. Fortunately, urban and rural dwellers alike can still refer to her manual by engaging in gardening daily. Plants and animals teach far better geography than any book. You can observe and identify seasonal changes, anticipate upcoming storms, and ensure a healthy harvest, all by gardening mindfully. And what better way to learn the nature of seasons and weather than experiencing its glory firsthand?

Encourage Kids To Refer To Calendars

Teach your young kids how to refer to calendars and make a plant calendar for them. They can follow and identify when different plants shed their leaves, bear flowers and fruits, and wither away, helping them learn seasonal changes better than any textbook. They may also make notes of certain changes in weather and their effects on plants and flowers. Over time, they will be able to identify and predict season and weather change better than news stations.

Maintain A Nature Journal

While following a plant calendar, make sure your kids include all the information you discover together in a nature journal. It can be drawn or stuck pictures clicked photos, or even short pointers, but writing and recording information will help kids remember and understand season changes and local flora better.

Enjoy Various Nature-Oriented Activities

Introduce your kids to various nature-oriented activities related to gardening to pique their curiosity about nature and climate. Try doing seasonal activities together and explaining the changes in positions of the sun and earth while fishing, hiking, treasure hunting, or weeding the garden. Try using objects from nature to explain difficult concepts to aid in visualization and comprehension.

Introduce Them To Local Weather Equipment

Since climate and local weather are determined using various scientific and local equipment, like a wind vane, rain gauge, and thermometer, among others, introduce your kids to them. Make eco-friendly versions of them together at home and measure your local precipitation levels, wind speed, and temperature with ease. This will not only improve their knowledge about seasons and weather but also introduce them to advanced geography and geology in an entertaining manner.

Measure And Record Temperature Daily

Temperature changes are a wonderful indicator of changes in pressure systems, the formation of cyclones and depressions, and random weather changes. If your kids learn to observe the temperature and note it daily, they will form a healthy appreciation for meteorology and geography, perhaps prompting a successful career in the same. But academics aside, this will keep kids involved in gardening and observing the well-being of their plants in different seasons.

Other Benefits Of Gardening For Kids

Gardening has multiple benefits for children other than educational ones.

Gardening improves your child’s self-confidence and self-esteem.
It helps your kids form a healthy and respectful attitude towards the environment.
Gardening teaches kids empathy and kindness for all creatures and lives great and small.
Gardening teaches children two very valuable lessons. Time management and responsibility towards a commitment. Both enrich your kid’s life in endless ways.
Gardening helps reduce the fear of insects, reptiles, animals, and of the dark.
It also plays a sincere role in enhancing the relationship between your kids and healthy foods. Children are always more likely to eat something they grow, or at least give it a fair try.
It helps keep lifestyle diseases, like obesity and hypertension at bay.
Gardening also lowers stress and anxiety levels in children, helping them sleep better as well.

Conclusion

Gardening plays a big role in teaching kids valuable life lessons. While going to school and studying from a textbook may not sound appealing all the time, it is necessary for children. So, utilize gardening as an extra learning tool to teach kids those valuable lessons that slip through their mental net in class.