GRAMGardening is a great way to combine exercise, fun and education. While gardening, you bend, stretch and lift, movements that help develop strength, flexibility and endurance.
Once the greenhouse is built, children can participate by planting seeds, watering the plants, and monitoring the growth inside their new creation.
Introducing gardening to children offers a unique opportunity to keep them active while instilling an appreciation for nature.
As they move, they learn about plants, animals and the environment.
These simple gardening activities for kids are designed to keep them active while providing fun and educational learning experiences.
Plant a garden
Creating a garden is a great way to get kids moving. The process involves physically demanding activities such as clearing the ground, digging holes and planting seeds.
A small flower or vegetable garden is a good place to start. Choose a sunny spot in your yard and mark off the area. Provide tools appropriate for the child’s age and have him or her clear and dig the soil.
Help them measure and mix the compost or fertilizer, then guide them in digging holes, planting seeds, and applying mulch.
Digging is a form of aerobics It involves multiple muscle groups in the arms, neck, shoulders and back, helping to strengthen the upper body. If kids are old enough to use a shovel, stomping on it to shovel dirt will work the legs and glutes, giving them a full workout.
Choose easy-to-grow plants, such as tomatoes, herbs, and sunflowers. They are easy to care for and give children the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of their labor in a relatively short time.
Provide long-handled tools to children with mobility issues and provide support to make the experience enjoyable.
Irrigation training
Watering the garden or yard may seem like a simple maintenance task, but it’s a great way for kids to get some exercise. Maneuvering a hose and carrying watering cans requires strength and coordination, making it a good workout for the arms and core. They’re getting a bit of a cardio workout as they move from plant to plant.
Provide younger children with appropriately sized watering cans. Fill them partially at first and increase the amount of water as they grow. In the meantime, teach them the needs of different plants and the value of regular care.
Make watering more fun by making it a routine or a fun challenge. Designate specific times to do the activity or have a competition to see who can carry the most water without spilling it. If it’s hot, end the activity with a sprinkler party in the garden or fill balloons with water and have a friendly fight in the yard.
Make a fairy garden
An outdoor fairy garden
If you have young children, they will love creating a fairy garden from scratch. Invite some of their friends over and make it a play date. Gardening, like outdoor play on the playground, encourages physical activity that teaches children to Foster creativity and forge a connection with nature.You should work together to plan what to include in the garden before you start digging, planting, arranging, and decorating.
Ask the group to gather natural materials to make the fairy garden. Create a miniature landscape with rocks, dirt, pebbles, twigs, and plants. Show them how to create paths, houses, and furniture for the “fairies.” Provide small figurines and toys to decorate the magical garden.
Harvesting vegetables and fruits.
Harvesting is another physical activity that kids of all ages will love. Have them squat down to pick low-growing produce, such as carrots, turnips, and strawberries. This exercises their leg muscles, which improves balance. Encourage them to stretch to reach higher plants and develop flexibility and coordination.
Provide baskets for them to harvest and challenge them to bring them to a designated spot. Make the activity more exciting by organizing a “race” to see who can fill their basket first, adding a cardiovascular element to the activity.
Build a mini greenhouse
Building a mini greenhouse may seem complicated, but it can be a rewarding project for kids and a physical activity to boot. The key is to scale down the size to fit the kids’ ages and use easy-to-handle materials, such as recycled plastic bottles and small wooden frames. If your budget allows, buy a ready-made kit and put the pieces together yourself.
The little builder will be absorbed in numerous tasks that require physical effort, such as lifting objects and putting them together. He will have to bend down, reach for objects and sometimes even hammer or screw pieces together. These activities keep the muscles active, improve coordination and enhance cognitive abilities, such as problem solving.
Children with cognitive disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will thrive with the structure and clear sequence of building tasks. Hands-on activities allow them to spend energy constructively and support sensory stimulation. This helps them stay focused on the task at hand to get the full benefits of the activity.
Once the greenhouse is built, children can participate by planting seeds, watering the plants, and monitoring the growth inside their new creation. This constant care keeps them active and fosters a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.
Promoting health through activities for children
Gardening activities for kids provide a healthy balance of exercise and education. Whether digging, planting, watering, harvesting or building, the movements they perform help burn calories and build muscle.
In addition to promoting physical health, you’re encouraging children to spend time outdoors. They also learn about nature and develop an appreciation for the environment.
Kids of all ages are sure to have fun participating in these simple gardening projects while getting exercise and learning valuable life skills.
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Beth is the mental health editor at Body + mindBeth has over five years of experience writing about behavioral health, specifically mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Beth also writes about the power of human design to reveal our full potential and purpose. You can find her at X @body-mind magazine.
