HELP YOUR KIDS BLOSSOM

Finally, what seemed like the longest, coldest winter in memory is over. I don’t know about you, but I’m grateful to spend time soaking up the sun, walking and biking along the boardwalk in my Long Beach neighborhood.

But during my excursions, it saddens me to see how many young people are isolated and clueless about the beauty of the world surrounding them. Most are staring down at their phones as they text or scroll through their Instagram feeds.  

For other kids, their tech device of choice doesn’t even make it out of the house. It can be a perfect spring day—75 degrees, sunny, not a cloud in the sky—and these youngsters prefer to stay indoors, playing video games or glued to some other form of electronic device.

Make no mistake: Regardless of their protestations otherwise, a number of these children and teens are not only lonely and miserable, but they’re at risk of a host of physical, social and emotional problems.

Here are just a few: We all know that obesity is an epidemic in our culture, and a big reason is that our kids’ addiction to gadgets means they’re not outside running around and playing. Lack of movement plus bags of chips and big gulp sodas equals overweight  youth—who are likely to turn into unhealthy adults.

Socially, when kids spend all their time on Facebook instead of face-to-face with their peers, they feel isolated and alone. Finally, research suggests that kids who don’t spend enough time in nature are prone to anxiety and depression.

What’s a parent to do? There’s no better time of year than now to get out there with your kids and start digging and planting.

Here at North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, we’ve seen firsthand how children blossom when they “get back to the garden.” At our Roslyn Heights headquarters, groups of children and teens water, seed and weed our organic bed, and they’re filled with pride when they see lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables grow. And, since much of the produce they harvest is donated to local food pantries, they experience the pride that comes from helping others.

Through their work in the garden, we saw kids who were shy and insecure develop self-confidence and make new friends. They learned social, leadership and team-building skills. They felt a sense of accomplishment that they had never experienced before.  

Tending the garden and watching it grow enabled them to intensify their sense of wonder and curiosity.

Gardening helps kids connect to the Earth, to each other and, yes, even to their parents. Young children will be in awe as you show them the fruits (and vegetables) of your joint labor. If your teens are reluctant to work with you, that’s OK. Give them some responsibilities of their own, such as watering or weeding; expose them to tools that they can begin to master—and don’t be surprised if they end up sharing some gardening hours with you. By sowing seeds and harvesting bounty, they gain a more visceral sense of how things change over time.

Another plus: Gardeners might not use the terminology, but they achieve a natural state of calm and focus that’s become known as “mindfulness.”

Though people often associate it with meditation, mindfulness doesn’t require hours of prayerful silence or chanting mantras.  Mindfulness at its core is about paying attention—staying in the present, moment by moment—to feelings, thoughts, bodily sensations and the surrounding environment in a judgment-free way.

Mindfulness is an inherent part of the experience of tending to a garden; it gives kids new ground to stand on, both literally and figuratively, embracing their senses of sight, smell, sound, touch and taste. Mindfulness in nature calms the brain, allowing for reflection and healing, and it’s also great for the body, lowering stress, inflammation and blood pressure.

If gardening isn’t up your alley, not to worry. Being outdoors—whether hiking in the woods, riding your bike or swimming at the ocean—restores the spirit, and there’s bound to be an activity your kids will enjoy.

So, whether you are eight or 80 or anywhere in between, take advantage of the beautiful weather and find your bliss. It’s right outside your door.

Bio: Andrew Malekoff is the Executive Director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, which provides comprehensive mental health services for children from birth through 24 and their families. To find out more, visit www.northshorechildguidance.org.