18 Reasons to Teach Children How to Grow Food
In today's fast-paced, tech-driven world, many parents and grandparents are looking for ways to connect children with nature. As someone with over 20 years of experience as a teacher, I have seen first-hand how outdoor learning, particularly gardening, can deeply enrich a child's education and well-being. Beyond being a fun outdoor activity, gardening holds a wealth of benefits that can nurture a child’s development in surprising ways.
Not only does it tie into the National Curriculum, it also provides real-life, cross-curricular experiences that develop essential skills in science, maths, literacy and even mental wellbeing. Whether you're growing vegetables, flowers or herbs, here are 18 compelling reasons why you should teach children how to garden.
1. Encourages Healthy Eating Habits
Children are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables they have grown themselves. According to the Design and Technology component of the National Curriculum, children are encouraged to understand where food comes from and the processes involved in its preparation. Growing their own vegetables makes children more interested in learning about other fruit and vegetables, they are more excited to eat them in salads or sandwiches and this may encourage them to ask for more vegetables at mealtimes. This hands-on experience with food production promotes healthier choices and a deeper understanding of nutrition.
2. Promotes Physical Activity
Gardening involves various physical tasks like digging, watering and weeding, all of which develop a child's motor skills. In schools, we often see how children become excited to take part in physically engaging activities. A great example might be a child helping to prepare a garden bed by digging holes for seeds or bulbs. This sort of activity not only gets them moving but helps develop strength and coordination in a way that's far more enjoyable than a typical PE lesson.
3. Teaches Responsibility
Children learn that plants need regular care to thrive, which directly relates to the PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) focus on developing responsibility and independence. For instance, assigning a child the task of watering a sunflower every day instils in them a sense of accountability, teaching them that their actions (or lack of) directly impact the plant’s growth.
4. Fosters Patience
In a world of instant gratification, gardening teaches children the value of patience—something we often strive to develop in the classroom. An example could be growing a pumpkin for Halloween. The child plants the seed in spring and must patiently wait several months for it to grow and ripen in time for the autumn festivities. This extended timeline helps children understand that some rewards are worth waiting for, reinforcing a mindset of delayed gratification, which is crucial for their learning and personal development.
5. Boosts Environmental Awareness
Through gardening, children can develop a strong sense of environmental stewardship. The Geography and Science components of the National Curriculum encourage children to understand their environment and the natural world. For instance, a child planting flowers might notice how bees and butterflies are attracted to their garden, sparking conversations about pollination and the importance of insects for the health of our planet. Gardening fosters a sense of care and responsibility for nature, which is essential in today’s climate-conscious world.
6. Provides Hands-On Science Lessons
The natural world is a wonderful classroom and gardening gives children direct experience with many of the concepts they encounter in their Science lessons. For example, planting beans can demonstrate the stages of germination, root development, photosynthesis—complex ideas that become much more tangible when children can observe them in real life. All teachers know that children retain information better when they are actively involved and gardening is the perfect way to make science real and relevant.
7. Encourages Creativity
Children have rich imaginations and gardening is the perfect outlet for creative expression. At school children are encouraged to engage in projects that allow them to explore colour, shape and texture. But you can do the same at home - why not create a themed garden, such as a sensory garden with fragrant herbs or a fairy garden with small plants, stones and decorations. Designing and arranging their space helps children express their individuality while developing creative problem-solving skills.
8. Teaches Problem-Solving Skill
As in any project, gardening presents challenges—whether it’s pests, weather changes or plants that fail to grow. In the classroom, problem-solving skills tend to be more limited in nature but the garden is a different matter. For example, if a child’s plants are being eaten by slugs, they may learn how to address the issue by applying non-toxic slug repellent or creating natural barriers, tryingh out what works and what doesn't. These situations encourage critical thinking, an essential skill that children will carry with them throughout life.
9. Builds Confidence and Self-Esteem
In my years of teaching, I have seen how confidence grows when children feel a sense of achievement. Gardening provides this in spades. When a child harvests carrots they planted months earlier, the sense of accomplishment is immense. They take pride in their efforts and grow in confidence, which spills over into other areas of their life, from academic challenges to social situations.
10. Encourages Teamwork
Gardening can be a collaborative activity that fosters teamwork. Siblings, friends or even family members can work together to tend to a shared garden, learning how to cooperate and divide responsibilities. For example, one child might be responsible for digging holes, another for planting seeds, while a parent oversees the watering schedule. In schools, we see how gardening projects can strengthen relationships, as children learn that working together yields better results.
11. Strengthens Family Bonds
Gardening provides an opportunity for families to spend quality time together. For parents and grandparents, it's a chance to pass down gardening knowledge and family stories. In my experience, children love hearing about how things were done in the past and gardening offers a chance for grandparents to share their own experiences, whether it's how they grew their first vegetables or a favourite family recipe that uses garden-grown produce.
12. Promotes Mental Wellbeing
Gardening has long been associated with improved mental health, a topic that is becoming increasingly important in schools and families. For children, the calming, repetitive actions involved in tending to plants can be a perfect outlet for relieving stress and anxiety. For example, if a child is feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork, they may find solace in quietly watering plants or tidying the garden. Outdoor activities like gardening help children regulate their emotions and find a sense of peace.
13. Instils a Sense of Gratitude
In a world where it’s easy to take things for granted, gardening teaches children to appreciate the effort required to produce food. A child growing their own strawberries, for instance, will learn to value the time and energy needed to care for the plants and they are often more appreciative of food when they realise the work involved.
14. Provides an Understanding of Life Cycles
Gardening offers children a tangible way to learn about life cycles, something they’ll explore in their Science lessons. For example, after a sunflower wilts and dies, a child can collect the seeds and replant them the following spring, seeing firsthand how life regenerates. It’s a powerful lesson in nature’s rhythms and helps children understand the larger cycles of life, death and renewal.
15. Develops Fine Motor Skills
Gardening requires precision, whether it’s handling small seeds or using tools like trowels. These activities help young children develop their fine motor skills, which are crucial for other academic tasks like writing. For example, carefully planting tiny lettuce or carrot seeds involves the kind of hand movements that can enhance a child’s overall physical development.
16. Sparks Curiosity and Love for Learning
Gardening is the perfect way to ignite curiosity and in my years of teaching, I’ve found that curiosity is the foundation of all learning. Children may wonder why some plants grow better in shade than sunlight or they might ask why worms are good for the soil. These questions lead to rich discussions about Geography, Science and even Maths. Gardening opens the door to a lifelong love of learning and discovery.
17. Reduces Screen Time
In today’s digital age, reducing screen time is a priority for many families. Gardening provides a hands-on alternative to tablets and video games. For example, a child could spend an afternoon building a small herb garden or creating a bug hotel in their garden, completely absorbed in the task and away from screens. It’s a simple yet effective way to reconnect children with the physical world.
18. Creates a Sense of Accomplishment
Watching something grow because of their efforts instils a deep sense of accomplishment in children. A child who grows their own peas or tomatoes may feel immense pride when they serve them as part of a family meal, knowing that they contributed to something meaningful. This sense of achievement is something we constantly strive to nurture in the classroom, as it builds self-esteem and resilience.
For Adults Who Are New to Gardening
If you're new to gardening and don’t know where to start, don’t worry—there’s a solution! Actually, there are TWO SOLUTIONS! Even if you’ve never planted a seed before, you can still guide your child through the process. Gardening is a learning journey for all ages and it’s never too late to begin.
Solution 1: A Book for Both Children and Adults
There’s a special book designed to help children learn how to grow food but here’s the great part—it also has sections specifically for adults. This means you can assist your child in the project, even if you’re a gardening novice yourself
Solution 2: Garden Growers Community
Conclusion
Teaching children how to garden is about much more than just growing plants; it’s about growing responsible, curious and well-rounded individuals. Whether you're a parent, grandparent or educator, introducing children to gardening can leave a lasting impact on their health, education and overall well-being. Plus, it's an excellent way to bond and create memories that will stay with them for a lifetime. With the right tools and resources, gardening can become a shared experience for both children and adults, providing a unique opportunity to grow, learn and thrive together.
Happy gardening!
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