Guest post by Ali Clarke
Green beans
It is estimated that barely 5% of American children meet the requirements on exercise, sleep and screen time — with almost 30% falling short of all recommendations. Although children from all walks of life are falling prey to technological overloads, it is especially those living in some of the bigger cities across the country that can benefit from getting closer acquainted with nature. While this may seem like a difficult feat, it is becoming increasingly easier thanks to urban farming, which is fast gaining popularity in the USA.
Children are privy to a unique learning opportunity on an urban farm
Too many children lack basic yet, essential life skills as they grow older. Urban farms provide these city kids with the perfect opportunity to get their hands dirty and learn a variety of skills that will benefit them for the remainder of their lives. Due to the hands-on approach needed when tending to an urban garden, a willing child can learn skills ranging from planting seeds and weeding a garden to identifying and combatting common pests and becoming familiar with basic animal husbandry. Having the entire family, including the children involved in tending to the farm, it also makes the workload less, giving the adults a welcome break from some of the more tedious daily chores.
In what other ways can urban farming benefit children?
Apart from the practical skills acquired while helping on the farm, there is a range of other skills that can be acquired almost effortlessly. Urban farming can teach children valuable lessons about healthy eating and food consciousness which will help them make good food choices later on in life. This is a valuable skill to acquire considering that nearly 1 in 5 children of school-going age in the USA is considered to be obese according to the CDC. The may also become interested in cooking as well as other aspects of food preparation such as fermenting, preserving, and smoking. Spending time on an urban farm will also instill patience and perseverance together with a sense of pride in a child who has taken the responsibilities bestowed upon him or her seriously.
How to get a child interested in urban farming
One of the easiest ways to create an interest in urban farming is to create excitement around the activity. Give each child their own small allotted space to tend to, allowing them to choose what they want to plant (a favorite vegetable, herb, berry etc). Be sure to reiterate the benefits of growing their own food and incorporate as many fun-filled activities into the farming as possible. If children don’t seem interested in the horticultural aspects of urban farming, perhaps enlisting their help to tend to the livestock is a good place to start as children have a natural fondness of animals.
Getting a couple of youthful hands to help you on your urban farm will benefit them as much as it will you. Not only will the children be blessed with invaluable life skills but you will also undoubtedly benefit from the extra help with the endless tasks that need to be taken care of on a daily basis.
