Children love to play and when they are outdoors, the smell of soil attracts them. They love to dig little holes in soil, touch tiny leaves, watch plants grow and water them. It comes so naturally to the young minds. However, such simple experiences can go a long way. They can learn a lot during these early moments of their lives.
With gardening, children can learn things that they cannot via studying inside a classroom. They get enough time to observe, care, wait and understand. In a boutique preschool in Singapore, learning can be thoughtfully designed around the child. Gardening can be a nice way to teach them important values and virtues that will stay with them, lifelong.
Patience Comes Naturally
Children want everything instantly.
They want the seed to become a plant. They want the flower to bloom. They want to taste the fruits. And they want these today, now!
Gardening teaches them otherwise.
They learn that a seed needs water. How important sunlight is. Most importantly, why time is needed for everything.
Slowly, they understand that good things take time. They learn how important it is to wait, observe changes and appreciate even small progresses in life.
This patience can influence other areas of their lives too. Children start becoming more comfortable with things that need more time to show results.
Responsibility Becomes a Habit
Plants cannot speak.
They cannot remind us how much they need sunlight. They cannot ask for water. They have to be provided with all of these. And children notice that they have to do this for the plants.
When they begin to handle small preschool gardening responsibilities, they learn what caring means.
When they check the soil, remove dry leaves or water the plants, it all adds up to a great learning experience. Looking after a little garden corner teaches them so much.
They understand that everything needs care. They begin to appreciate how much parents and teachers care for them. And they learn the meaning of responsibility. Slowly, being responsible becomes a habit.
And that is a powerful lesson for little minds.
Kindness Grows Through Care
When children care for something, they develop affection for it – naturally.
That is why gardening is so important in a preschool environment. Children find a little friend in a tiny plant. They notice its new leaf. They get a sense of achievement when the plant that they water every day grows taller. They get worried when it looks weak.
This emotional connection teaches kindness.
Children start to slowly grapple with the biggest virtues of life like care, attention and gratitude. Children start feeling more emotions and treat plants, animals and even people around them with more kindness. They learn that whenever you have food in front of you, it comes from a farmer somewhere in the world who had to labour quietly for months before it turns into food on a plate – and that is a precious insight that can inspire feelings of gratitude for the farmer and for Earth.
The foundations for such values are laid through daily experiences.
Curiosity Leads to Learning
Why is this seed so small?
How does it become a plant?
Why are some leaves green?
So many questions come to the mind of children when they engage in gardening activities.
And there is an opportunity to learn with every question.
Children observe everything very closely. They notice changes fast. When they compare different plants, they can understand what might happen. They can start making little predictions and wait to see the results.
They can have a fascinating learning experience with this kind of hands-on discovery. Through real experiences, they can understand simple concepts. It is not only about books or explanations anymore. They have something practical to learn from, every day.
Perseverance Builds Confidence
Gardening does not always go perfectly.
And this is what children can learn very fast.
A plant may become weak. A seed may not grow. Excessive watering can lead to the plant dying. Sometimes, flowers may not bloom.
But that is alright.
Children get to know that failure is not the end of life. It is just a part of the learning process.
They can plant another seed. They can wait for flowers to bloom. They can see another healthy plant emerge from the soil. And when life finds a way, they know the value of perseverance.
They realise that effort matters.
At Whistle Woods Schoolhouse, we help children understand that gardening is not another outdoor activity. It is part of life. They jump in joy and engage in preschool gardening activities with full enthusiasm. This way the young minds learn to deal with patience, kindness and become more curious in the process.
Let your child pick up new habits, stay more connected with Nature and become a better human being in the process. Get in touch with us now!