Experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana recommend that summer vacation is the perfect opportunity to introduce children to gardening and farm visits, helping them connect with nature and reduce their dependence on gadgets. They warn against the increasing trend of children spending excessive time on social media, reels, and online gaming, even in rural areas.
Why Gardening and Farm Visits Matter
According to Bhallan Singh Sekhon from PAU's Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), this is the best time to bring the younger generation back to nature through comprehensive gardening and farm visits. He calls it an excellent and practical way to reconnect children with the natural world.
Divya Jain, also from KVK, emphasizes that gardening should not be limited to a small kitchen garden at home. She urges parents to expand the concept by involving children in growing decorative plants alongside vegetables, flower cultivation, setting up a home nursery, landscaping, and caring for fruit-bearing trees. This broader approach deepens children's connection with nature.
Benefits Beyond Screen Reduction
The experts advocate adopting PAU's kitchen garden model for home courtyards, terraces, and balconies. A kitchen garden ensures a year-round supply of pure, toxin-free food for the family, while connecting with soil and seeds brings positive changes in children.
Gurmail Singh Sandhu, another KVK expert, notes that watching a tiny seed transform into a plant, bloom, and bear fruit teaches children patience. Daily watering and weeding instill a deep sense of responsibility. He adds that scientific research proves working in soil boosts immunity, as beneficial bacteria help children fight seasonal illnesses.
Engaging Teenagers in the Digital Age
While younger children enjoy playing in mud, pulling teenagers aged 13 to 19 away from digital devices is a challenge. PAU experts suggest using smart digital technology to engage them. Instead of confiscating phones, parents should encourage teenagers to take up nature photography and use the internet to research advanced agricultural models like drip irrigation and hydroponics (soil-less farming).
Farm visits and agricultural tourism are also recommended. Watching modern machinery in action, drinking fresh water from a tubewell, and picking fresh fruits directly from trees can distance teenagers from screens while rejuvenating them physically and mentally.
Creative Projects for Older Children
The experts recommend handing over leadership of creative projects to teenagers, such as landscaping a terrace, making pots from scrap, or preparing organic compost from kitchen waste. These activities foster a sense of ownership and environmental stewardship.
By integrating gardening and farm visits into summer routines, parents can help children develop a lifelong connection with nature, reduce screen time, and learn valuable life skills. PAU experts believe this approach is crucial for raising a generation that values sustainability and well-being.
