{"id":6841,"date":"2023-10-03T10:35:15","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T08:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/responsive.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents\/?p=6841"},"modified":"2023-10-03T10:36:01","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T08:36:01","slug":"kids-gardening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/activities-and-outings\/diy-activities\/kids-gardening\/","title":{"rendered":"5 good reasons to get your kids gardening!"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a youngster, I remember being sent outside with nothing more than a soccer ball or a bicycle to keep me entertained. Messy play was by way of gardening , muddy hands and all ! But now days our kids are hooked on TV, addicted to iPads and attached to their phones. Playdates with neat baths and kinetic sand or soap bubbles are the closest they will get to gardening or messy play.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

And let\u2019s face it; most of them are more likely to tear open a Twinkie than munch on a carrot.<\/p>\r\n

According to Discovery Health, almost 20% of South African children are considered overweight or obese and this problem is getting increasingly worse. So how do we ensure that our children grow up with both a healthy outlook on life and a healthy BMI?<\/p>\r\n

In SA we\u2019re blessed with a wonderful climate, with nearly 11 months of sunshine a year. This makes growing your own vegetables and fruit a very real possibility, even if you think you don\u2019t have the space. If you have a patch of sunshine, either on your balcony or in your back garden, you can produce your own food and reap the benefits.<\/p>\r\n

5 reasons why getting your kids gardening is a great idea<\/h2>\r\n

1. It teaches them life skills.<\/strong> This generation is all about instant gratification but once they\u2019ve spent days waiting for a strawberry to turn the perfect shade of red, they\u2019ll learn both patience and gratitude.<\/p>\r\n

2. I can bet that if I asked some kids (and some adults) how a broccoli grows, few would actually know. Growing your own can help you brush up on some basic biology<\/strong> and learn more about food production.<\/p>\r\n

3. They\u2019ll learn respect for the environment.<\/strong> When they see the miracles nature produces they\u2019ll be less likely to waste precious resources and more likely to protect our planet.<\/p>\r\n

4. It can save you money<\/strong> in the long run! Although setting up may require a small initial outlay of cash, you\u2019ll soon start to save money on your weekly grocery shop.<\/p>\r\n

5. It encourages an interest in healthy eating<\/strong> (and is a great form of exercise too). Once your child has nibbled on their first juicy carrot or bitten into a sun-ripened tomato – they\u2019ll be hooked.<\/p>\r\n

When is the best time to introduce your kids to gardening<\/h4>\r\n

Spring has just arrived, so now\u2019s the best time to get cracking (or gardening!) Starting off can be as simple as visiting your local nursery, choosing some seedlings and asking for a little advice. I used a company called How Splendid to help me set up my own garden. They also offer vegetable boxes for smaller spaces and special kiddies\u2019 boxes too.<\/p>\r\n

Ultimately though, I\u2019m doing it for another reason – I want to help create childhood memories my kids will treasure for years to come. Because as Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote in The Secret Garden<\/i>:<\/p>\r\n

\u201cHowever many years she lived, Mary always felt that she should never forget that first morning”
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