There’s a special type of magic that happens when young children engage in gardening. Preschoolers are particularly receptive and open to gardening activities for a variety of reasons: gardening is fun, they get to observe and even play with insects, and get their hands in the dirt! Children are fascinated by plants and how they grow. And they absolutely love the basic activities involved with garden maintenance: weeding (pulling plants out of the ground is amazing!), mulching (different types of materials are interesting to play with!), and above all, watering!!

Preschoolers are fully capable of engaging in all aspects of gardening throughout the growing season– soil prep (digging is the best!), planting, watering, maintenance, harvesting, and of course, enjoying the fruits of their labor. Young children even have certain advantages over adults: their small hands and fingers are great at planting tiny seeds!

Children absolutely love tasting the fruits and veggies that they’ve grown! Studies show that gardening can improve children’s nutritional outcomes, meaning it encourages them to eat more fruits and vegetables. This potentially has implications for reducing their risk for illness, and improving their lifestyles down the line.

Gardening has a myriad of benefits for preschoolers:

• Allows them to engage directly with nature
• Opportunity to learn about natural processes/cycles
• Empowers them to gain self-efficacy and confidence
• Gaining coordination and teamwork skills
• Practicing patience
• Physical movement and activity
• Gross and fine motor development
• Spending time outdoors in sunlight and fresh air
• Encourages age-appropriate development
• Expanding their verbal development and vocabulary
• Enjoying yummy garden fresh snacks!