“Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow.” – Unknown
You can literally cultivate a love of literacy. Gardening with kids increases their literacy skills in fun and natural ways. Just by being together and gardening, you are not only cultivating soil, but important literacy skills. There are many, many ways gardening with kids increases literacy, but here are 5 good ones:
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Encourages non-fiction reading
Edventures with Kids has a great article that includes gardening books and activities. These books would be wonderful to read to your children before gardening. Kids’ Garden Activities That “Dig Into Reading”.
Also, you can check out many gardening books from the library. I love the book by Gail Gibbons, From Seed To Plant.
I came across this great gardening with kids site. It has kids’ gardening news, ideas, family gardening activities, lesson plans, and so much more. It is a fabulous resource to read together. This type of reading role-models to our kids that reading is interesting, and we learn new things by reading.
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Conversation builds language skills
Gardening with your kids requires spending time together. A natural by-product of that is conversation. This is rich conversation because your kids are exploring the outdoors asking many questions that build language skills. Not only are you spending quality time together, but your kids are learning to nurture something, watch it grow, and develop language skills.
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Vocabulary
Gardening with kids allows for carefree exploration of the natural world; this rarely occurs in today’s era of indoor living. It develops science literacy as well as science vocabulary. By getting outside in a different environment, kids learn words that they may have never encountered otherwise. Kids learn many new words by gardening with you. These new words expand their vocabulary repertoire making it easier to read those words and comprehend their meaning when encountered. Life experiences like gardening with kids increases reading comprehension by increasing their vocabulary.
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Nutrition- Increased Awareness
“Research indicates that youth who participate in garden-based learning programs have increased their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, and gained new enthusiasm for fresh, nutritious vegetables they grew.”
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Exercise
I just got finished planting seeds, pulling weeds, and watering my garden. (Yes, I did do this with my kids.) 🙂 I can definitely tell I worked some muscles in my legs. Exercise increases serotonin levels in the brain which give people a positive outlook on life as well as increased focus. When kids have good levels of serotonin, they are clear thinkers which leads to higher literacy. Gardening with kids is also hands-on learning. Studies show that kids that exercise and have hands-on activities score higher on achievement tests.
Garden-based learning organizations
Click here for a list of garden-based learning organizations.
Gardening helps kids develop academically, personally, socially, and morally. It is a life skill, and a positive trend. Moreover, gardening with kids teaches kids delayed gratification; they plant a seed today and reap the harvest later. It is a rewarding way to teach them responsibility, respect for our environment, and sustainability. In addition to all those benefits, gardening with kids is fun and increases literacy skills without them even realizing they’re learning. 🙂
Let’s make a positive difference~ one word at a time.
♥Pamela
Please share this article with others that you think would benefit from these tips. Also, please ask any questions that you may have about teaching children reading or writing. Leave your questions in the comments. I’ll answer.
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Photo Credit: 1. cmchildrensgarden.wordpress.com 2. amazon.com 3.amazon.com 4. miyouthandfood.msu.edu
My kids love gardening, but I hadn’t thought about it as a literacy endeavor. What a great find kidsgardening.org is! My 8 year old will love it. Thank you!
Heather,
It is great that your kids love gardening. I think most kids do when we involve them. I’m so happy you like the website kidsgardening.org. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Together, we make a positive difference ~ one word at a time. 🙂
Pamela
Since I don’t have kids, I never thought about it as increasing literacy. Thanks for pointing that out.
Visiting from Create w/Joy Blog Hop.
Linda,
Yes, isn’t it amazing. Almost everything we do builds literacy. 🙂
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.
Together, we make a positive difference ~ one word at a time. 🙂
Pamela
Great post! We love gardening over here too!
Susen,
That’s awesome that you garden together. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Together, we make a positive difference ~ one word at a time. 🙂
Pamela
This is such a great post, Pam! It just goes to show that there’s opportunity everywhere to improve literacy in creative ways.
C.L. Murphy AKA Lovable Lobo,
Thank you so much! 🙂
I know you are a creative writer and graphic artist. 🙂
Together, we make a positive difference ~ one word at a time.
Pamela
My kids loved to garden. It’s a perfect mix of learning opportunity as you pointed out, but also is fun quality time with your kids. They can also feel accomplished once the garden is planted and blossoming. Plus it’s a good reason to down and dirty!
Stopping by from the Inspire Me Monday hop, stop by and say hi 🙂
Talent Hounds,
That is awesome that your kids love to garden. I find that most kids do.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thank you for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Together, we make a positive difference ~ one word at a time. 🙂
Pamela
What a fun connection! Have you seen the recent Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner? I think it would be an amazing fit. Thanks for sharing with #KidLitBlogHop!
Katie,
Thank you. Thank you for the book recommendation. I’ll check it out. 🙂
Together, we make a positive difference ~ one word at a time. 🙂
Pamela
I love this post! It speaks to me as a mom, a librarian, and a gardening fanatic! There are SO MANY wonderful children’s books about gardening, This one is my new favorite: http://amzn.to/1dP71z6
Thanks so much for stopping by the Kid Lit Blog Hop … I’m looking forward to sharing this post across my social networks.
Rebecca,
I am so glad that you like this post and that it is beneficial. 🙂 Oh, thank you so much for the gardening book for kids recommendation. I’ve added it to my list. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this post too. I love being a part of the Kidlit community.
Together, we make a positive difference ~ one word at a time. 🙂
Pamela
Love gardening especially with the grandkids. Thanks for the recommendation of this book. Sounds like a great source for gardeners big and small.
Patricia,
So happy to hear that you garden with your grand kids. Not only are you increasing literacy skills, but you are building lasting memories with them. I still have fond memories of helping my grandma in the garden. 🙂 Just by being with her, I learned a lot of vocabulary. 🙂
Together, we make a positive difference ~ one word at a time. 🙂
Pamela
Loved this.,
Yesterday I posted an activity calked “Garden Soup”. There is something so raw, pure, and inspiring about being outside and getting dirty. Kids NEED this so badly today!
I’ve posted this to my Facebook page so my “summer bucket list for kids” followers will find this:)
https://www.facebook.com/ABetterWayToHomeschool
Bekki,
I am so happy you enjoyed this. I’ll check out your Garden Soup post. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this post via Facebook.
Together, we make a positive difference ~ one word at a time.
Pamela