Observing children enjoying gardening is mesmerizing

A friend sent me a video of children he tutors having a ball gardening. I focused on their smiling eyes, their plump cheeks, and their eager animation. To them, gardening was a blast.

My friend was lost for words to explain such youthful glee over what others considered hard work. Perhaps because Luther Norman, their instructor, works hard, sending the subliminal message that gardening is fun when it is done right.

Perhaps it’s because they are too young to know otherwise.  Nobody sees the elephant in the room: could it be that gardening is fun when done productively?

Addendum.

More good news

Toni Brown held the gardening event at her house, and she prepared the seedbeds and invited the children to the event. Brown has a degree from Clemson in agriculture, and she has 5 years of experience.

TONI BROWN, CLEMSON GRAD TEACHES GARDENING AND OTHER SUBJECTS AT THE SILVAN LEARING

You plant a seed in a muddy hole and pat black dirt around it.  You water it, fertilize it, hoe away weeds from it, repel bugs from it, and pray for rain, sunshine, and heaven’s blessing on your tiny slip.

Your eyes beam when you see the embryo protrude straight up, never leaning or sagging, but stretching for the sun. The seedling transforms into roots, stem, branches, leaves, flowers, and produces fruit fit for a king.

Children rejoice in experiencing the growth of their anatomy, mind, and emotions into full-grown adults before their time.

Experts say teaching children gardening at an early age promotes holistic development by enhancing physical skills, boosting cognitive functions, fostering emotional and social well-being, and building a crucial connection to nature. It offers hands-on opportunities to learn about science and math concepts, develops motor skills and responsibility, and provides fresh air and healthy food.  

Children learn about plant life cycles, ecosystems, and the interdependence of living things.  They also develop math skills by counting, measuring, and sorting plants and seeds.

An unexpected benefit: gardening builds vocabulary and promotes literacy. Every craft has its own jargon and unique stories, legends, and myths, but what industry is more solidly rooted in reality, history, charts, graphs, and exactitude than gardening?

Little wonder that you also fall in love with my kids.