• Why KidsGrow?
• The KidsGrow approach
• Why target primary schools?
• KidsGrow sustainable gardening principles
• Benefits to you
• The KidsGrow toolkit
• Questions or comments

Why KidsGrow?

KidsGrow, an initiative of Nursery & Garden Industry Australia (NGIA), aims to equip garden centres and retail nurseries with resources, tips and ideas to encourage schools to get kids gardening. It has been created by education specialists and industry representatives.

Studies show that kids who have positive first gardening experiences are far more likely to develop a lifelong enjoyment of gardens and gardening. With over 7000 primary schools Australia-wide, schools provide an ideal setting for long term gardening activities embedded in sound learning experiences for nearly two million students.

The KidsGrow initiative is unique because it doesn't just teach kids about gardening, it gets kids gardening.

By encouraging schools to get kids gardening you will not only be encouraging the next crop of gardeners, you will also be teaching kids to love gardens and care for the earth as you inspire the future of our industry.

The KidsGrow approach

The KidsGrow approach is to let kids design, build, grow and share the garden at school with the teacher acting as facilitator. Keeping the school garden kid-focused is critical to maximising the learning, creating ownership and building stewardship and lifelong habits.

Why target primary schools?

A new national initiative focusing on "Sustainable Schools" means that schools are seeking to improve their school grounds as part of a "School Environmental Management Plan" (SEMP).

More importantly, schools need to link this improved resource management to the school curriculum and student learning outcomes.

KidsGrow provides a solution to both these needs while also providing participating retailers with new business opportunities. Rather than one-off activities at the garden centre, schools (especially primary schools) provide an ideal context for long term gardening activities. Graded, sequential learning experiences in the school garden can lead to deep learning and life-long gardening habits amongst children.

KidsGrow sustainable gardening principles

School gardens cultivate not only plants and animals, but also the academic, personal and interpersonal skills of the students who tend them. The KidsGrow themed garden plans and ideas for teaching and learning encourage kids to engage in gardening that is:

• Purposeful
• Smart
• Connected
• Fun

Benefits to you

Primary schools are keen to partner with businesses in the local community. Sharing KidsGrow resources with your local school communities will not only encourage school gardening activities but will also help to position you and your staff as the garden experts in your local community.

The KidsGrow Toolkit gives you the answers to gardening enquiries from schools right at your fingertips. The resources in the KidsGrow garden industry section provide great ideas, tips and suggestions for reaching schools while the KidsGrow schools resources section and themed gardens can be shared with local primary schools either as targeted mailouts or given as handouts at the garden centre.

Australian garden centres and retail nurseries participating in the program can download a FREE KidsGrow toolkit. The KidsGrow toolkit provides your garden centre or retail nursery with:

• The resources to encourage schools to get kids gardening
• Answers to gardening enquiries from schools right at your fingertips
• The ability to communicate with schools in their language via templates, fact sheets and other resources
• Ideas for marketing your products and services to schools using items readily available in your business
• The opportunity to raise your business profile in the community
• The means to position you and your staff as the garden experts in your community.

What's in the KidsGrow toolkit?

Questions or comments?