A LIST of children’s gardening activities to help improve young people’s mental health has been revealed, writes Caitlin Valle.
It comes during Children’s Mental Health Week which began on Monday and runs until Sunday, February 3 to 9.
The awareness week was launched by children’s mental health charity Place2Be and aims to give a voice to all young people in the UK.
The week highlights the importance of children’s wellbeing and activities to boost the mood with gardening being one of them.
Being in the outdoors has long been recognised as a great way to improve mental wellbeing and, with that in mind, British Garden Centres has put together a list of ideas parents can do with children to help grow their love of gardening.
- Seed sowing – Watching a seed transform into a plant is rewarding for children, encouraging them to take pride in what they grow. Vegetables, such as peas and early carrots, can be sown directly into pots or seed trays. They require warm conditions to germinate and will benefit from plenty of light and water, so place them in a greenhouse where children can watch them grow.
- Wildflower seed bomb – Making a wildflower seed bomb is a fun and educational activity for children and will build excitement. They are easy to make. To participate, buy some wildflower seed mix from a local garden centre and combine it with soil or compost. Water should then be added to form a moist mixture before the wildflower seeds are added. Roll the mixture into small balls and then the child can have some fun by throwing the bombs into the garden, promoting joy and biodiversity.
- Plant a tray garden – This hands-on experience allows children to learn about different plants and tailor their gardens to a theme of their choosing. Popular themes include fairies or sports, cars or dinosaurs or TV. British Garden Centres stock plants, gravel, compost and everything else to bring children’s visions to life.
- Paint garden stones – Painting offers a lot of therapeutic benefits – all that is needed are some flat stones from the garden and the little Picassos and Michaelangelos can paint designs ranging from flowers to patterns. This actively provides an ideal lesson in focus and concentration and once finished, the stones can be presented outside the home to bring joy to friends or passers-by.
Amy Stubbs, Development and Projects Manager at British Garden Centres, said: “Gardening isn’t just about growing plants – it’s about cultivating growth and confidence for children, resilience, and fostering a connection with nature that can profoundly benefit their mental wellbeing.
“Let’s encourage our children to get their hands dirty and discover the joy of gardening this Children’s Mental Health Week.”
Visit: britishgardencentres.com or search for ‘British Garden Centres’ on Facebook, Instagram and X for more.
