Growing Green Goodness
Gardening is a wonderful family experience. It is an excellent way to spend quality time with children while teaching them lessons about life, the workings of nature, and the value of protecting the environment.
While working in a garden, a child can experience the satisfaction that comes from caring for something over time and observing the cycle of life firsthand. Children gain a sense of pride and accomplishment from watching the fruits and vegetables grow and eating food they have produced themselves.
In this day and age when family activities tend to cost more money than we typically would like to spend, why not opt for a little old-fashioned family fun? By being involved from planting to harvesting, all family members will have the opportunity to reap the educational, nutritious and tasty benefits of gardening!
In addition to home activities like gardening, there are many student-driven environmental education programs available for your child to participate in while in school. Programs such as Energy Savers, S.W.A.T (student water audit team) and Feed the Bin are offered at all elementary, middle and high schools, as part of our Environmental Stewardship program coordinated through WCPSS Environmental Health and Safety. For more information, please call 856-3715.
Tips for Gardening with Kids
1. Be sure to engage children through the entire process, from seed to table.
2. Have the kids pick out favorite vegetables that they want to grow.
3. Find a sunny spot in the yard to plant. If you live in an apartment, condo or area without much land, consider doing a container garden out of pots, empty jugs or bottles.
4. Teach them how to plant, water and pull weeds.
5. Have children help pick the vegetables when it’s time to harvest.
For additional information go to the following links:
http://www.eartheasy.com/grow_gardening_children.htm
http://www.850koa.com/cc-common/news/sections/lifestylearticle.html?feed=104696&article=3738803