The Power of Gardening in Early Childhood: Growing Young Minds at Imagine Childcare

At Imagine Childcare, we believe that learning goes far beyond the classroom and one of the most powerful lessons begins right in the garden. As part of our all-inclusive childcare programs, gardening is a key component of our curriculum for children across all of our classrooms. Through our hands-on gardening lessons, children are learning valuable life lessons on curiosity, wellbeing, and healthy habits.

Gardening provides a wealth of benefits during the early learning years, from Toddlers exploring the textures in the soil to Kindergarten and Preschoolers nurturing growth from seeds through to harvest. This type of sensory-rich, outdoor activity supports holistic development across physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skillsets.

Here’s how gardening at our childcare centres helps young children thrive:

🌱 Physical Development

Digging, planting, watering, and harvesting help build fine and gross motor skills. Children develop strength, coordination, and dexterity while staying active and engaged outdoors.

Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Oakleigh South children planting their own seeds to care for.

🌿 Cognitive Growth

Gardening teaches science in real-time. Children explore plant life cycles, weather patterns, and ecosystems—helping them understand the world around them. They also learn responsibility and patience as they care for their growing plants.

Imagine Childcare and Preschool Orange children and Educators setting up their new worm farm.

🌻 Emotional Wellbeing

Spending time in nature has been proven to reduce stress and increase calmness in children. Gardening builds self-esteem and pride as children see the results of their efforts bloom and grow.

Children and Educators at Imagine Childcare and Preschool Blueridge Park are planting flowers for their Toddler yards.

🌼 Social Skills

Whether they’re working in teams to tend to a veggie patch or taking turns with watering cans, gardening encourages cooperation, communication, and empathy.

Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Southport children are harvesting fresh herbs for their centre Chef to use for lunch.

At Imagine Childcare, we’re proud to offer gardening experiences at all of our daycare centres as part of our all-inclusive fee structure. That means families can enjoy the benefits of this enriching activity at no extra cost. Our outdoor learning environments are purposefully designed to include edible gardens, flower beds, and even worm farms, giving children a deeper connection to nature and sustainable living.

Our passionate Educators integrate gardening into our daily routines and learning programs, aligning with the both the Early Years Learning Framework and the Abecedarian Approach Australia to nurture a love of the environment from an early age.

Whether it’s tasting the herbs they’ve grown or spotting the first sprout from a seed they planted, children at Imagine Childcare are constantly discovering, experimenting, and learning. And as any gardener knows—those early roots make all the difference.

Stay up to date with our Imagine Childcare centres on Facebook to see how use gardening in their every day curriculums.

Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Smithfield, Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Melton, and Imagine Childcare and Kindergarten Andergrove are opening soon. Follow them on Facebook to receive regular updates on their progress.

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