Nursery World - Nursery Food: Gardening

Encouraging healthy eating is just one of the many benefits of gardening, reports Annette Rawstrone.

No wonder many children love gardening - there is the fun of digging in the dirt combined with finding interesting creatures, plus the magic of tending to and watching plants grow. Ultimately, there is the satisfaction of harvesting and actually eating their produce.

Growing a range of vegetables, fruits and herbs is a fantastic way to link children's experiences with all areas of the curriculum, from discussing healthy eating to problem solving, environmental awareness and developing physical skills.

Many practitioners find that even the fussiest of eaters will sample food that they have grown themselves - experiencing the sensory excitement of watching it change and develop, feeling the textures of the leaves and the smell of the fresh produce.

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