Children who garden are happier and more confident, finds Royal Horticultural Society study
Last updated 6/28/2010 10:21:40 AM
Children who garden are happier and more confident
Gardening can help a child feel happy and boost their development, latest research has found.
A study for the Royal Horticultural Society surveyed 1,300 teachers and 10 schools, finding that youngsters encouraged to have so called ‘green fingers' became more resilient, confident and lived healthier lives.
Teachers who used gardening as part of learning said it helped improve children's readiness to learn, according to researchers at the National Foundation for Educational Research.
It also encouraged pupils to become more active in solving problems, as well as boosting literacy and numeracy skills. Now the society is urging that gardening should become a key teaching tool rather than as an extra-curricular activity in schools.
The report said: "Fundamental to the success of school gardens in stimulating a love of learning was their ability to translate sometimes dry academic subjects into practical, real world experiences. Children were encouraged to get their hands dirty, in every sense. Teachers involved in the research said the result was a more active, inquisitive approach to learning. The changeable nature of gardening projects - where anything from the weather to plant disease can affect the outcome - forced children to become more flexible and better able to think on their feet and solve problems."
Researchers believe exposing small children to insects, such as worms, helps them to overcome their fears, while waiting for crops to grow teaches them patience. Gardening also helped teach them about healthy living and healthy eating.
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