Why Garden with Kids?

Since 1982, KidsGardening has supported educators and caregivers nationwide in bringing the life-changing benefits of gardening to children. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to play, learn, and grow in a garden.

Three kids looking through brown leaf mulch in a raised garden bed.

Gardens are joyful, hands-on spaces where kids build skills, confidence, and connection.

Research consistently shows that youth who participate in gardening programs experience meaningful gains across academic, physical, social-emotional, and environmental outcomes, with especially strong benefits for children facing barriers related to food security, health, and access to experiential learning.

Why is Gardening with Children Important?

Each year, we survey the youth garden programs we support. Program leaders consistently report improvements in:

Sense of community
Attitudes toward conservation and sustainability
Environmental literacy and connection to nature
Social skills and cooperation
Fruit and vegetable consumption
Self-confidence and agency

Key Benefits of Youth Gardens and School Gardens

Abundance. Youth gardens nourish both bodies and minds. Growing food increases the likelihood that kids will try and enjoy fruits and vegetables, while sharing harvests fosters generosity and compassion. Gardens also offer endless opportunities for hands-on learning across subjects and age groups.

Connection. Gardens bring people together. In a time of growing social isolation and loneliness, youth gardens create spaces for belonging, collaboration, and shared purpose. Gardening supports emotional regulation, reduces anxiety, and helps children and adults feel more hopeful and connected.

Empowerment. Gardens give kids tangible ways to make a difference. Whether addressing hunger, caring for pollinators, or responding to climate change, gardening builds practical skills and strengthens children’s belief in themselves as capable problem-solvers and agents of change.

An adult and two kids work together to build a raised bed.

An adult and children are outside, holding hands in a garden setting.

Does Research Show Gardening Benefits Kids?

Yes! Research confirms what educators, caregivers, and kids experience firsthand: gardening positively influences many aspects of children’s lives.

Learning

Gardens are living laboratories. They support hands-on exploration across science, math, literacy, art, and history while encouraging curiosity, persistence, and learning through trial and error.

Research: A review of 12 studies found that students engaged in gardening scored higher on science achievement tests in every study reviewed. (1)

Nutrition and Physical Activity

When kids grow food, they are more motivated to taste it. Gardening programs increase fruit and vegetable consumption while promoting physical activity through digging, planting, carrying, and moving outdoors.

Research: Quantitative studies show positive outcomes in science achievement and food behaviors. (2) Gardening programs across four countries significantly increased children’s fruit and vegetable intake. (3) A study of sixth-grade students found participants were more willing to taste and ate a greater variety of vegetables than peers in a control group. (4)

Environmental Stewardship

Gardening nurtures curiosity, wonder, and joy while fostering a sense of connection to nature, food systems, and community. These early experiences help build empathy and care for the natural world.

Research: Preschoolers participating in a garden project showed significantly higher gains in scientific attitudes and nature-friendly behaviors, along with increased cooperation and wonder. (5)

Mental Health and Social-Emotional Well-Being

Youth garden programs support emotional regulation, cooperation, pride, and problem-solving. Gardens offer children meaningful opportunities to work together and experience success.

Research: Studies across five countries found school gardens improve social-emotional learning and deepen connections with nature. (6) Students experienced more happiness, pride, and cooperative behavior in garden-based lessons than in classrooms. (7)

Food Security and Food Sovereignty

Youth gardens empower children to grow food for themselves, their families, and their communities, building knowledge and skills that support long-term food security.

Research: A study in Pima County, Arizona, found that school gardens provided both direct food donations and long-term benefits by equipping students with tools and knowledge to address food insecurity. (8)

Community Connectedness

Youth gardens strengthen communities by creating shared spaces for learning, collaboration, and action.

Research: A five-year community gardening study in Canada documented benefits including environmental restoration, social interaction, cultural expression, community activism, and food security. (9)

Therapeutic Benefits

Gardening provides rich sensory input that supports calm, focused bodies and minds. For young children especially, movement and sensory experiences are critical for healthy development.

Research: A study of youth with autism spectrum disorder found that garden program participants showed significant improvements in independence, adaptive behavior, and social interaction. (10)

An adult and a child examining roses with a hand lens

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start gardening with kids?

Kids of all ages can garden. Starting small, with containers or easy-to-grow plants, helps build confidence and curiosity. Gardening invites children to observe, experiment, nurture, and learn alongside caring adults.

Consider Container Gardening

Six Easy-to-Grow Herbs

How do I start a school garden?

Successful school gardens are built around people, place, and plant care. Common steps include gathering support, setting goals, securing funding, and engaging the broader community.

Starting a School Garden Program

What can I grow in a garden with kids?

It depends on your space, time, and climate. Most importantly, ask kids what they want to grow. Involving children in planning builds excitement and ownership.

Growing Guides

Planning a Pollinator Garden