Growing Together: Open Forum

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  • 1.  Psychosocial activities and interventions

    Posted 09-24-2023 01:15:00 PM

    I am a retired therapist and educator who is helping to develop a gardening program for Elementary aged  kids with social/emotional issues. Anyone have experience with counseling interventions and targeted activities to help kids with these issues?

    Websites, books or other links?

    Thanks,

    Gail Faris

    Retired MFT and K-5 educator



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    Gail Faris [Designation]
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  • 2.  RE: Psychosocial activities and interventions

    Posted 09-25-2023 11:48:00 AM

    Hi Gail, I work with 11-17 year olds at a non-profit mental health treatment facility and teach agricultural education classes as part of their science curriculum with hands-on work in the garden spaces. I'm happy to chat more with you in you have questions!



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    Erica B. [Designation]
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Psychosocial activities and interventions

    Posted 09-25-2023 11:51:00 AM
      |   view attached
    Just taking time to soak in nature is good for the soul. The teamwork aspect of gardening supports working together and builds social skills.

    Sensory gardens with lambs ear and herbs have calming effects on children.

    Incorporating chickens in a program and caring for animals supports social emotional learning too.

    I don’t have a lot of specific curriculum, but just getting kids engaged and outdoors brings so many benefits to them personally, as well as builds a nurturing community.

    Here is a fun activity to get you started.

    Good luck with your project!

    Kim


    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Psychosocial activities and interventions

    Posted 09-25-2023 12:15:00 PM

    Hi Gail,

    I am a former teacher who is now doing the exact program you are starting! I started our program a year ago for children in grades K-5 and it has been a huge success. Kids need this so badly! I work with our guidance counselors to identify kiddos with social-emotional needs and then pull small groups into the garden weekly. I bought a curriculum on teachers-pay-teachers that I really enjoy. Its $48 and gives you 12 comprehensive lessons that tie emotional needs into gardening concepts. Its very well done! I used that as a jumping off point to get me started and then began adding my own ideas in the duration of the year. 

    In our garden, we have a "touch and smell" area (like Kim mentioned) filled wither herbs and lambs ear. Its the kids' favorite spot. We have a gnome/fairy garden for creative play, and another raised bed filled with soil and seasonal items (acorns, leaves, seeds, pumpkins right now) where kids can freely dig and and play in the soil without the risk of them digging something up. 

    Here is the link to the curriculum I bought: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/GROW-CLUB-Social-Emotional-Gardening-Curriculum-7794709

    One more resource I used when needing data for to convince my administrators to let me start this program is the book "Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder" 

    Hope this helps! Please reach out if you want to chat more. 703-307-4317 

    Alicia (Garden Educator in Virginia)



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    Alicia Rodriguez [Designation]
    Conway Elementary School
    Fredericksburg VA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Psychosocial activities and interventions

    Posted 09-25-2023 06:48:00 PM

    Gail, It looks like you have received some excellent replies.  One other place you might check is the Kids Gardening webinar archives.  There was one last March on "Cultivating Resilience in Youth with Deep Nature Connections" that sounds like it could have some good suggestions!

    Happy gardening.



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    Eugene Tuckwiller [Designation]
    Houston TX
    7134985952
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Psychosocial activities and interventions

    Posted 09-25-2023 08:12:00 PM

    Thanks for all the heartfelt and insightful replies. You have given me many great ideas!

    I look forward to gathering other ideas from those of you who are already doing the work and sharing what I  learn once we get the garden going!

    Gail 



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    Gail Faris [Designation]
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Psychosocial activities and interventions

    Posted 09-26-2023 11:41:00 AM

    Another resource you might check out is the American Horticultural Therapy Association. A few years back I went to a workshop led by Leigh Anne Starling of the AHTA. The focus was on people's relationships with plants and ways to use garden spaces therapeutically with children. It was excellent!



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    Jen Reese
    Science & Garden Coordinator
    Amherst & Pelham Public Schools
    Amherst, MA
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    Original Message


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