Gardening with Children with Special Needs

By Anthony Bui

Children with special needs require a bit more attention and care when it comes to their health and development. Without it, their social, physical, and cognitive development will suffer. It is a parent’s job to find activities that efficiently stimulate their minds and bodies in order for them to grow up and be as healthy and happy as they can be. Gardening is a fun and creative way that parents can encourage their children to get outside and do something that has benefits for both their physical and mental wellbeing.

Social Development

For children with special needs, social interactions can oftentimes be something that they dread and find much difficulty with. Sadly, some children are even purposefully left out of many social situations which can have a drastic negative impact on their social development. Involving everyone in a community gardening project or even starting an at home garden gives children with special needs a space to work on their verbal and nonverbal communication skills. They also develop a sense of situational awareness as they learn what to do and what not to do when gardening with specific plants. They learn to watch where they step. They learn how to nurture and care for a plant and the consequences of failing to do so. Having a safe space to practice all these things and learn all these skills helps them as they transfer the same skills to the real world. When it comes to interacting with their peers, they now have much more confidence and a better understanding of the actions and consequences they learned during their time gardening. As a result, the connections and friendships that they will form will have a much more solid foundation.

Physical Development

Gardening is a great form of exercise that is able to work out all parts of the body. It gets children outdoors, where they can dig in the dirt, stretch, and lift. For children with physical disabilities, traditional forms of exercise may be difficult. They can’t do the same things as other children like participating in sports and other activities that children enjoy. With gardening, children’s needs are able to be met where they are at. If they have a disability or special need that inhibits any form of movement or action, there are specialized equipment and tools that will be able to help meet that need. This inclusivity allows for everyone to be able to enjoy an activity that is able to help with their physical development.

Cognitive Development

Children with certain special needs that impair their cognitive function have a much more difficult time functioning independently in society. The world is stressful enough for people who don’t suffer from any sort of special need. It is hard to imagine how difficult it is for a child to go through the struggles of life while dealing with some sort of physical, cognitive, or social need. These disabilities can exasperate an already tense situation. It may be hard to believe this, but gardening can help lessen some of that tension and anxiety. It is relaxing; it helps to calm children down and refocus their minds. It hits that much needed refresh button in their brain that they can’t reach themselves.

Getting Started

When starting, make sure to consider any disabilities and gather the right equipment and tools. For example, for children who may have a more difficult time moving around and bending down, consider looking into raised garden beds. When it comes to plant selection, look into things that are easier to take care of. It can also be beneficial to look into plants that have distinct sensory or textural qualities. This can help to capture children’s attention and engage all of their senses. If there are any other questions or uncertainties, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Not only will this encourage children to seek out help when they need it, it also helps to ensure that you are doing things the most efficient way. Local gardening groups are a great source of information and would be happy to help out in any way they can.

7

Summer Camps You Can’t Miss

Still on the hunt for the perfect summer camp for your kiddos to attend? Check out these great options around town.

Arden Cahill Academy’s Camp Corral

3101 Wall Blvd., Gretna ardencahillacademy.com (504) 392-0902 There’s still time to join in Camp Corral’s 10-themed weeks of activities, including horseback riding, swimming, archery, STEM lab, and more on their beautiful 12-acre country campus on the Westbank in Gretna. Adventure week is always a hit, while events like blue & white days, rodeos, theatre productions, and the overnight camp”in” are not to be missed!

Every Day Away

7100 St Charles Ave., New Orleans everydayaway.camp 877-4KIDCAM (454-3226) Every Day Away is a summer day camp concept, brought to you by 50year summer camp experts, Kidcam Camps. Campers aged 8-14 don’t stay put, but get off campus every day as they enjoy new destinations and surprising excursions, such as horseback riding, White Sands Lake, and science or cultural adventures. We don’t just hit the road - we get out of town!

Atonement Lutheran Summer Camp

6500 Riverside Dr., Metairie alcs.org (504) 887-0225 Summer Camp at Atonement is BACK for kids in PreK3- 8th grade! There are LOTS of AMAZING camp options for your children this summer: Soccer, flag football, cooking, art, technology, basketball, “Slime Camp,” and dance to name a few, plus a lot more. We also offer before- and after-care. All are welcome. Registration is now OPEN!

Gates Preschool Summer Camp

4000 W. Esplanade Ave. S, Metairie gatesofprayer.org (504) 885-4339 We’re looking forward to a fantastic summer at Gates Preschool Summer Camp! Campers will enjoy water days, weekly themes, costume days, yoga, mad science, gymnastics, music, special events and more! Check out our fun-filled Camp Calendar and download the registration form at gatesofprayer.org.

Kidcam Camps

Multiple locations kidcamcamp.com Kidcam Camp offers 10 weeks of summer day camp, action-packed with activities that promote fun, fitness, friendship, and creativity. This year, campers will RE-discover the Spirit of Summer with a different theme each week, while incorporating sports, creative arts, STEM, movement, specialty programs by camp, swimming and water play, and 50 years of memorable Kidcam traditions! Locations throughout greater New Orleans and Northshore.

JCC Summer Camps

5432 St Charles Ave., New Orleans / 3747 W Esplanade Ave., Metairie nojcc.org/camp U (504) 897-0143 / M (504) 887-5158 JCC camps pack summer days with fun! Campers enjoy a diverse mix of age-appropriate activities including pool time and swim instruction, sports, games, science, yoga and multiple creative arts. Metairie still has space for ages 3-12 years old. Uptown has openings for grades 3-5 in Sports Camp, which focuses on sportsmanship and teamwork, in addition the fundamentals, skills and rules for a variety of sports.

MOVE! New Orleans’ Best Summer Camp

4716 Paris Ave., New Orleans neworleansbestsummercamp.com (504) 376-7009 MOVE! is the new name of our great summer camp program that’s a full day of activities for kids entering kindergarten through 6th. We offer classes in martial arts, parkour, dance, tumbling, and kickboxing as well as lots of sports, games, crafts, “Brain Games”, and our new “Kid Cave.” Free early drop-off and late pick-up included!