Preschool community gardens improve children's nutrition knowledge while turning them into agents of change for family food choices

This small-scale pilot study in northeastern Ireland involved parents of preschool children who participated in a community garden through their early years services. The community garden initiative began in 2016, with children, parents, and community members meeting weekly at the local preschool to learn about planting and develop a fruit, herb, and vegetable garden within the preschool premises.

The study was motivated by concerns about increasing childhood obesity rates. The World Health Organization reports that 41 million children under five are overweight globally, while in Ireland, one in four preschool-aged children is either obese or overweight. Food choices are heavily influenced by early childhood experiences and socio-economic backgrounds.

Through semi-structured interviews with eight parents, the researchers identified four main themes:

1. Children's socialization and bonding: Parents reported that the gardening group provided valuable opportunities for social interaction and bonding between children, parents, and community members. Children developed important social skills like sharing and taking turns.
    
2. Confidence building: Many parents noticed their children's increased confidence and pride in their gardening knowledge. Children began sharing information with siblings and family members about healthy foods and gardening practices.
    
3. Food awareness and knowledge: Children developed greater understanding of food origins, nutritional value, and the growing process. They became more willing to try new fruits and vegetables and often influenced family shopping choices by requesting healthier options.
    
4. The role of the preschool: The preschool setting played an important part in educating children about nutrition and healthy food choices, reinforcing the lessons from the gardening group.
    

The findings suggest that community gardens can be valuable tools for promoting healthy eating habits and social development among young children. The researchers recommend that children's involvement in community gardens should be encouraged, supported, and made accessible to all.

Environmental educators working with young children can apply several insights from this study:

1. Create opportunities for children to actively participate in growing food through hands-on experiences, which can increase their willingness to try new fruits and vegetables.
    
2. Involve parents and other community members in gardening activities to strengthen social bonds and reinforce healthy eating messages across different environments.
    
3. Use gardening as a context for teaching about food origins, nutritional value, and environmental concepts in ways that are engaging for young children.
    
4. Incorporate cooking and recipe-sharing activities to complement gardening experiences, helping children make connections between growing food and preparing healthy meals.
    
5. Recognize that children can become change agents within their families, influencing household food choices and eating habits when they're excited about what they've learned.
    
6. Consider the community garden as a space that contributes to multiple developmental areas simultaneously: social skills, confidence, knowledge about food, and healthy eating habits.

The study highlights how environmental education through gardening can address childhood obesity concerns while nurturing children's overall development in a holistic and engaging way.