See the Fruit of Your Labor

Earth Day is right around the corner, and what better way to teach your child to appreciate God’s creation than by gardening together? Check out the valuable lessons and skills your children can learn from this hands-on activity.Teaches ResponsibilityChildren learn that caring for plants requires responsibility and consistency. They can’t suddenly decide that they don’t want to do it anymore because if so, there are consequences, and their plants won’t survive. Kids need to water plants regularly, add fertilizer or plant food, and keep it in the right amount of sunlight. It’s EducationalThis is a great opportunity for children to learn about weather, agriculture, temperature, and the environment. Younger children can start by planting seeds, weeding, and watering.  Older children can help with everything from planning and designing the garden to harvesting and preserving your produce.It Builds Self-ConfidenceIt isn’t often that we work hard at something and get to see actual, tangible results, but gardening allows that. Kids learn how to nurture a seed all the way from plant to harvest, giving them a sense of pride. Depending on the plant, you can even help your child prepare it for a meal - they’ll learn some cooking skills as an added bonus! This helps them understand more of what goes into making the food that ends up on their plate, and opens the door to conversations about nutrition, healthy eating, and taking care of God’s creation.It Teaches VirtuesGardening is a lesson in patience. Plants require a lot of attention, but your child may get frustrated if after all their work, they don’t see growth overnight. A great trick is to take pictures of the plant each day. Sometimes little changes are hard to see with the naked eye but will be more easily noticed on camera. You can even ask your child if they want to share the pictures and cool facts about their plants with their science class!There are numerous benefits to gardening, so this Earth Day, take your children to a local plant nursery and spend time choosing different seeds to plant. Take advantage of the holiday and spend time in the garden with your little ones!Private schools in Osceola County proclaim the Gospel message within an academic environment of excellence that challenges students to be creative and critical thinkers. To learn more about Osceola County private schools, contact us at 407-246-4800.