Tiny Green Thumbs
“To plant a garden is to believe in the future.” - Audrey Hepburn
At Archangel Academy, we believe that in order for children to succeed and reach their full potential, all aspects of their development must be given attention. And we also believe that gardening is a wonderful activity for building a child holistically.
The Garden is Nature’s Schoolyard
Gardening and exploring nature awakens so many sensory elements of the growing child; the texture of the soil to touch, the scent of the flowers, the sound of the insects and birds, the taste of the vegetables and fruit and the amazing colours nature inspires us with.
“Getting outdoors and enjoying fresh air and sunshine has to be how nature intended children to grow up.” Gaspard Nzayisenga, founder Archangel Academy
Since my early years of life farm activities have had a special place in my heart. I was born in a rural area so gardening and caring for animals was one of the most prominent activities I was exposed to. In our home, activities included rearing livestock and growing crops. We used to raise (and slaughter) our own poultry, pork and beef, and had vegetable gardens.
As adults, my siblings and I enjoy teaching our own kids about gardening and caring for our food, just as my mom taught us. I have a feeling that my mom prepared me to continually teach and inspire young children through farming!
Young Children are Naturally Drawn to Farm Activities
Spending time in the garden offers opportunities to develop all kinds of skills. The benefits of gardening in early childhood are physical, emotional, spatial, mathematical, sensory awareness, character development, creative ideas, and just a love and appreciation of nature.
There are many opportunities in the garden for a child’s development and for their overall view of life and appreciation of the world around them.
Nowadays, due to more urban lifestyles, many preschoolers have little connection to farm life. Preschools try to teach preschoolers about farming by sharing pictures of farmland, barns, farm animals, and tractors. But so much is lacking in this methodology! Toddlers will benefit most from hands-on and sensory-based farm activities. At Archangel we make learning fun and interactive!
These educational activities also serve a secondary purpose. Not only do the children learn valuable skills but the animals we raise and the vegetable gardens we nurture also provide nutritious meals for growing young minds!