Learn About Worms in the Garden

In Vicki L. Stoecklin’s article, Gardening with Children; My summers at Beanstalk Children’s Garden, she writes,

“If children do not have time to explore and fully understand nature, they are at risk of developing what is known as biophobia or an aversion to nature.”

We see this in children that do not grow up playing outdoors with a chance to get dirty. Their first reaction is to fear the natural element, like a bug. Once their fear has passed, they kill it. If we can expose our children to the outdoors when they are young, they will be comfortable with the elements and be able to help preserve them.

One way to get a child comfortable is to teach them about worms, smushy and harmless yet extremely interesting! For a hands on session, you can let the children touch a worm to feel the silkiness of its skin along with the rise of its ridges. To help children desire to preserve these creatures, teach them about all of the benefits that worms bring to nature as Earth’s helpers:

· They consume pests,
· They enrich the soil by digesting and re-depositing everything they eat as they travel along,
· and They are natural plows. As worms twist and turn they push aside loose soil there by creating tunnels. Rainwater will trickle down and fill the tunnels allowing roots to drink the water.

Look for our next entry for an activity that will allow children to observe worms at work!

Learn Healthy Eating in the Garden

It is difficult to pick up a publication and not see an article about childhood obesity and obesity-related complications, including type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Through gardening we can introduce preschool children to healthy food options and what better place than on the outdoor playground. Growing fruits and vegetables provides an opportunity for learning about proper nutrition, the Food Pyramid, vitamins, and minerals, which leads to an awareness of and respect for a healthy lifestyle.

The children will enjoy digging in the dirt, planting seeds, watering, weeding and documenting and observing the growing process. With so much labor invested in the process they will certainly be curious to harvest, clean and sample the "fruits of their labors". Children will learn that fresh is good -- fun and tasty. Preschool children can learn the merits of eating food plucked from mother earth instead of a box, wrapper or deep fryer.

To start your garden, find a patch of soil in a sunny location protected from run away balls, riding toys and running feet - raised gardens work best. Make your own or check out The Adventurous Child Pizza Garden and The Adventurous Child Root Garden.