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Spring is here, and it is time to plant the garden! Gardening with children can be chaotic and challenging, but the benefits far outweigh those moments. Building gardens with children provides experiences to teach them:
- Cognitive skills: identifying colors and shapes of fruits and vegetables, opportunities to sort
- Math: Measuring growth of plants, counting the number each plant yields, graphing favorite fruits and vegetables, charting days from planting to harvest
- Motor skills: Digging with tools or their hands and fingers builds strong muscles strengthening both fine and gross motor skills.
- Social skills: Develops a sense of community in the classroom or program, cooperation in helping each other
- Emotional skills: Builds confidence and self-esteem in knowing they helped create the garden
Reaping these benefits does not have to come from an acre-sized garden. It can be produced through a small, raised bed on the playground or a few plants in containers outside. Indoor hydroponic gardens are also great for engaging children with gardening.
The Missouri Departments of Health and Senior Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Agriculture, and the University of Missouri Extension want to support you in building a strong foundation of gardening and increasing opportunities for Farm to Early Education. They will be hosting virtual listening sessions to discuss your vision for Farm to Early Education on May 5 from 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm with a follow-up discussion on May 19 from 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm to examine the barriers to Farm to Early Education. If you can’t stay for the whole discussion, join for what you can to provide your input.
Come join the conversation!
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