In my garden, life is buzzing, come along with me
In my springtime garden I wonder what I see?

Through gardening, children gain a sense of the wholeness of nature and their place within it. In Kindy, children follow the whole cycle of nature; from planting seeds and nurturing young plants, to watering and weeding, and finally, harvesting and baking with the produce.

The children see adults engaged in caring for the gardens; weeding, pruning, planting, watering, and will spontaneously choose to join in. Vegetable and flower seeds and seedlings are planted in the Kindy garden, which we need to tend and water, or tie up and harvest. Leaves and flowers may be collected for craft projects. Vases always need someone to fill them with flowers!

The Kindy children explore the gardens and observe the creatures that live there; collecting and providing habitats for creatures such as snails, beetles, worms, caterpillars and bees. Children have opportunities to investigate the different characteristics of living things and their unique needs. In springtime, when our Mother Mulberry Tree grows her new leaves, tiny silkworms hatch and the children learn to look after them picking fresh leaves every day.

Gardening provides the children with the opportunity to experience a sense of purposeful work as well as an appreciation of the beauty and a sense of wonder towards the harmonious interrelationships inherent within the natural world. It allows the children to interact with the environment in a positive and constructive way.

Kara Mallory
Kindergarten Teacher