The Role of Flowers and Plants in Child Development
There are various aspects from which the role and impact of flowers and plants in improving an individual's quality of life can be evaluated. This is particularly evident in the treatment of depression and many mental health conditions. However, one important factor influencing a person's psychological and emotional development, personal growth, and social development is the impact of the surrounding environment during childhood. This is considered so important in developed societies around the world that, according to a report by the International News Service of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting from The Hague, the Dutch government, following several years of scientific research, has required kindergartens and educational centers to take children to greenhouses, flower-growing facilities, or orchards at least once a week, allowing them to interact with flowers.
Furthermore, these researchers recently conducted a scientific study in which kindergarten children were taken to flower fields. They were encouraged to play, walk, or even run along the paths between rows of flowers, while taking care not to damage them. The interesting findings showed that the flowers in the areas where children had played were more vibrant and healthier, and even grew faster. This demonstrates the reciprocal interaction between flowers, as living and vibrant organisms, and children.
Interacting with flowers and, at more advanced stages, caring for a houseplant or a pot of roses, plays a significant role in developing various skills in children, including learning, responsibility, empathy, social interaction, self-confidence, concentration, and overall happiness. The findings of numerous studies conducted over recent decades indicate that children should be introduced to flowers and plants from an early age. This is particularly recommended for natural flowers and indoor plants in urban environments. Children who have more frequent exposure to flowers and plants generally enjoy better mental well-being than their peers. Another important point is the value of ongoing interaction with one or more flowers. The gentle and thoughtful way a child learns to treat a living organism such as a flower creates a different experience from interacting with a pet or a toy, thereby broadening the child's capacity for interaction. This can be particularly beneficial in fostering environmental awareness among future generations in societies where the environment is vulnerable or under threat. For this reason, schools in countries around the world offer gardening and flower-growing classes to help increase natural resources and teach children to respect nature from an early age. This not only has significant economic benefits for a country but also improves the overall peace of mind and mental well-being of society. Moreover, spending time with indoor plants is essential in urban communities characterized by stressful and often harsh environments. One of the best ways to purchase and order flowers, roses, and houseplants in crowded, high-traffic cities is through online flower ordering. TiTiGift online store provides a simple and elegant platform for fellow Iranians living in different parts of the world and across Iran, including Tehran, Isfahan, Karaj, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz, and other cities. You can order a variety of fresh and decorative flowers and plants online, including roses, lilies, orchids, snake plants, Ficus benjamina, decorative pine trees, variegated Ficus benjamina, Dracaena plants, Schefflera trees, and more, to beautify your children's rooms and loved ones' spaces and bring the spirit of nature into their surroundings. You can also order indoor plants online for your greenhouse or home and give them to your child as a unique gift. By assigning your child the responsibility of caring for one or more plants, you can help foster a sense of responsibility, care, and ownership in the best possible way.
Children's Connection with Nature Through Gardening and Growing Flowers
One of life's simple pleasures and one of the easiest ways for children to connect with nature is through gardening and growing flowers and plants. Children who have participated in gardening or caring for plants with their parents from an early age, and who have also observed their parents gardening, tend to enjoy better mental well-being and develop a more positive relationship with their surroundings as adults. This activity also strengthens parent-child interaction and fosters a greater sense of empathy within the family. Spending this time together helps create a deeper bond between children and their parents and significantly increases meaningful family conversations. This is particularly important because the family is the first and most influential environment in which a child's personality and cultural values are shaped. In a study conducted in the United Kingdom, psychologists concluded that children who keep potted plants at home are generally more responsible. This is why parents and teachers in developed countries, as well as some developing countries, assign children the responsibility of caring for one or more plants. The study also noted that children living in cities feel more relaxed and establish better relationships with their friends when they interact with natural flowers and indoor plants or spend time in environments decorated with them. Interestingly, the greenery of plants gives children a sense of freshness and vitality. The British research team also found that children who have gardens at home or care for potted plants display lower levels of aggression than their peers who have little or no contact with natural flowers and indoor plants. Another benefit of keeping plants at home is that it encourages children to use their imagination and creativity through play and conversations with flowers as though they were friends. This, in turn, can contribute to children's academic development. Involving children in plant care helps support their mental development while also allowing you to organize your indoor garden and create a meaningful, constructive activity to enjoy together.
Benefits of Gardening for Children
Having indoor plants and engaging in gardening at home provides children with opportunities to connect with nature, which can positively influence their mental and emotional well-being. Gardening with children does not require a large space or extensive equipment. Parents can simply purchase a potted houseplant and introduce their children to gardening and interacting with flowers. Gardening activities, when carried out regularly and over time, can provide an opportunity to teach children a wide range of subjects. Below are some of the most important and scientifically recognized benefits of gardening with children.
1- Children gain considerable knowledge about plant growth through hands-on experience. Children who participate in gardening tend to develop greater intellectual maturity than other children.
2- Gardening activities can improve coordination between the nervous system and muscles, as they involve hands-on work and practical experience. According to experts, gardening is one of the activities that engages all five human senses. As a result, it is one of the most beneficial activities for children, helping them learn the fundamentals of science, art, and mathematics.
3- Becoming familiar with vegetables can encourage children to eat more of them and, in turn, adopt healthier, plant-based eating habits.
4- When children care for their plants, they become familiar with the cause-and-effect relationships involved in the plants' life cycles and growth processes. This helps develop their understanding and reasoning skills. Observing plant growth also provides excellent opportunities to introduce biological concepts, allowing children to share their thoughts and discuss them in a group.
5- Engaging in meaningful shared activities and spending time together toward a common goal can strengthen family relationships and increase feelings of love, importance, and empathy. Children's interaction with flowers and plants can also enhance their sense of self-worth and self-confidence.
6- Assigning children responsibility for watering, growing, and caring for plants teaches them to become more responsible.
7- Introducing children to environmental protection is another important area of learning that can be achieved through gardening.
9- Gardening provides an excellent opportunity for children to overcome isolation and learn teamwork, cooperation, and interaction with others, all of which are essential life skills.
10- Achieving successful results in gardening requires planning, organization, and patience. During their early years, children become familiar with these qualities and experience their practical benefits firsthand, which can have a lasting positive influence on their lives.
11- Interacting with flowers and plants has a calming effect on children and helps relieve their stress. Interaction with flowers, particularly indoor plants, can play a significant role in reducing anxiety among children in modern urban communities and apartment living environments.
Principles of Teaching Gardening to Children
Children have different abilities at different ages. Although every child has individual characteristics and should be given activities suited to their skills and knowledge, there are certain points that should be considered for each age group.
Children under the age of seven require constant supervision during activities of this kind, and teaching them about safety and hygiene is particularly important. Children in this age group are not yet capable of taking full responsibility for watering plants. However, they can put away gardening tools and equipment after each use, and watering and other responsibilities can be shared with them. For this age group, it is important to make adjustments to the activity so that it becomes more engaging and enjoyable. For example, if you have two or three flowerpots on your balcony, you would not normally need a scarecrow. However, if you are gardening with your child, making a small scarecrow for those same pots can be an enjoyable additional activity. Similarly, if you plan to grow a small amount of herbs and vegetables in a little garden bed, deep digging would not normally be necessary. However, when you have a little helper, you may sometimes need to let them dig a little more than necessary, since turning over the soil is an enjoyable activity for children.
For children in the first half of primary school, this is an excellent age to introduce topics related to biology, chemistry, and the importance of environmental protection. After teaching them basic hygiene practices, they can also carry out some activities independently. Of course, they are capable of taking responsibility for watering and caring for plants under your supervision. Alongside gardening, you can also include related topics in your activities, such as learning about insects that live in the garden or using greywater for gardening. (Greywater, or recycled water, refers to water that is not suitable for drinking but can be reused for certain purposes, such as gardening. An example is water used to wash fruit.)
For children in the second half of primary school, having a sense of control and being able to express their personal opinions are particularly important. Therefore, take their ideas seriously when planning activities. As their skills develop at this age, you can even encourage them to grow produce in the home garden or in pots and then purchase the produce they have grown from them.
To increase your children's chances of success, choose plants that are easier to grow. For example, you can start with radishes, carrots, and lettuce. Select seeds that are appropriately sized for your child's little fingers. Sunflower seeds, nasturtium seeds, peas, and beans are suitable choices.
Talk to your child about flowering plants and teach them about the stages of flower development. To begin with, it is best to explain how plants disperse their seeds. Tell your child that a plant develops from a tiny seed and that all the plant's parts are present inside that small seed in an immature form. Explain that the stem and leaves are contained within the seed and gradually develop as the plant grows. Teach your child that seeds can be dispersed and planted in various ways, including through water, animals, wind, the plant itself scattering its seeds, and seeds falling onto the ground. When these seeds reach the soil, they germinate and gradually begin to grow. Next, explain that the first small growth emerging from the soil is a seedling, with a very delicate, fragile stem and a small number of leaves. Sunlight and water provide the conditions necessary for this seedling to grow and develop. Gradually, strong stems and roots form, and more leaves appear on the plant. Talk to your child about flowering plants and explain the stages of flower development, including how flowers bloom once the plant has fully grown. Explain that flowers come in different colors and fragrances, which help attract pollinators and support the process of pollination. After pollination, seed production begins. The formation and production of new seeds mark the next stage in a plant's life cycle. This cycle then continues, and when the new seeds are ready, they return to nature, where they can grow into new plants.
