Your young child has immense energy and stamina to play, run and roam free. However, with the growth of technology and its ability to offer instant gratification, nowadays most children spend time indoors hooked to their devices. They become couch potatoes and they spend less time outdoors.

Are you looking for a fun activity to motivate your child to go out and enjoy themselves? An activity that will teach your kid the value of patience? An activity that will inspire them to become eco-conscious and motivate them to make eco-friendly choices? If the answer is yes, we have a simple solution for you. Get your hands in the mud and start gardening with them.

If you live in a concrete jungle (aka a city) it can be a bit challenging to find a space to start gardening. If you don’t have access to a garden of your own, that’s alright. You can start indoor planting, all you need to do is: get a few pots, mud, compost, and a few seeds and start planting! Here are some reasons why you should start growing plants with your child: 

1. Gardening instils in them a love for biology and provides a hands-on learning experience:
It’s an amazing experience to watch a little plant grow and transform from a little seedling to a sapling. Dedicate the responsibility of watering the plant to your child. You can teach them the dos and don'ts of planting, a plant’s life cycle, the process of photosynthesis, and the things a plant needs to grow (sunlight, water, and compost). If they are an integral part of the plant's developing process, they will grow to love and appreciate the science behind its growth, especially if they watch it all unfold.

2. It teaches them the values of responsibility and patience:
Caring for a plant is almost equal to caring for a pet. Plants need care, attention, and water daily. Educate your child about the simple dos and don'ts of taking care of plants. Teach your child to water the plant daily, place it in the sunlight and add fertilisers to the soil from time to time. This will teach them the value of responsibility and how to take care of another living being. Gardening also plays an important role in boosting a child’s development and growth. Growing a plant with them, from a seedling to a sapling will teach them the value of patience. It will also give them some much-needed time with nature.

3. It's a great bonding activity:
Children love spending time with their parents and this is one love language they respond well to. Between your hectic schedules and your child’s fast-paced life, it becomes difficult to spend some quality time with your little one. That’s where gardening comes in. Your child will love to spend some quality time with you, make memories and live in the moment.

4. It’s a relaxing and de-stressing activity:
Taking a walk in a park or by the beach has a calming effect on one’s mind. It's important to spend time in nature as it has a relaxing and rejuvenating effect on one’s mind. Gardening has a similar effect as well. From digging in the mud to planting seeds and watching them grow into saplings and taking great care of them, this activity will bring great joy and happiness to your child.

5. It activates sensory play:
Gardening activates all five senses-touch, sight, smell, and sound. Your child will feel the texture of the mud, the seeds, and the leaves of the plant. They will see their little plant grow from seed to sprout and finally to a little plant. They will smell the scent of flowers and fruits. The flowers will eventually attract bees, butterflies, and birds, and your child will soon hear the buzzing drone of these insects and the chirps of the birds. All in all, this makes gardening a great sensory activity.

Conclusion:
Gardening has so many benefits! Besides having a therapeutic effect on one’s mind, it is a great activity to promote family bonding. From sparking an interest in science to creating a lifetime of memories, gardening promotes numerous benefits for you and your child.