Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Tips For Teaching Gardening To Special Needs Children

By Alta Alexander


Researchers have fronted gardening as an effective tool for teaching vital skills to children with special needs. It helps them to develop independence, boost their self esteem as well as develop better social skills. It is a better way of strengthening their mental ability as well as supporting physical development. Teaching gardening to special needs children in San Francisco, CA is a natural way of enhancing their development and general performance.

The secret to achieving good results is to prepare well. According to specialist researchers, the time allocated for garden activities should be evenly distributed. Finding a balance between activities that produce long term and short term results is recommended. An example is where you combine weeding with planting. The morale of these children is boosted by the small achievement and sustained by the long term results.

The activities should be planned before entering into the garden. Considering their learning ability, it is advisable to begin by demonstrating. Model behaviors are easier to copy. Constantly remind the children about the work at hand and what it is supposed to achieve. Throughout the session, you are required to reinforce the procedure by more demonstrations.

Learning is easier when you develop a routine that can be repeatedly copied. Ensure that all your target students are comfortable with the routine. Comfort will ignite confidence in their ability. The activity will appear easy and doable. As such they will be motivated to continuously engage.

Frequent gardening develops a routine that can be followed over time. This routine will only work if it is fun for the children. It creates a desire to do it again and again. It provides the motivation they require to continue working in the garden. The availability of snacks and drinks helps to replenish their energy and keep the team going.

Garden tools used by children should be specialized and appropriate. They also must be friendly to their size and condition. This makes the work comfortable and enjoyable to undertake. Improvise with the use of small spoons and plastic tools that will fit into their hands. Safety and ease in use are primary concerns when selecting the tools to use.

Since the exercise is not only for fun, find a way of ensuring that things are done right. This means that the right number of seeds will be put into each hole. The size of the seeds should match with that of their hands. They should evenly distribute them around the garden. You may consider mixing the seeds with sand or loose soil if they are small. It is easier to achieve the right number for even distribution.

As much as possible let the kids decide what to plant. Provide options since you understand what fits the area. This exercise helps them to own the project from the early stages. The plants should grow quickly for motivation purposes.

The movement and activity of the children in the garden should be well thought-out. The surfacing and path sizes should favor their condition. Safety considerations are a priority when planning for any activity. Protect the children from elements such as the rain and the sun. Plan emergency response and provide adequate personnel to ensure the success of the project.




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