Gardening and Time in Nature for Children and Youth

March 19, 2026

Time in nature, gardening, and therapeutic horticulture are increasingly recognized as powerful supports for children’s mental health, behavior, and overall well‑being. Research suggests that regular contact with green spaces and structured plant‑based activities can help reduce stress, improve mood, and support social and emotional development in children and youth (HealthyChildren.org, 2026; SF Children & Nature, 2021; Root in Nature, 2024).

Why nature and gardening matter for kids

Several major child‑health and development sources emphasize that time spent outdoors and in nature is linked with better mental health, including lower stress and depression and reduced anger and aggression (HealthyChildren.org, 2026). Children who have regular access to nature also tend to show greater resilience, creativity, and overall happiness (SF Children & Nature, 2021). Outdoor play and nature exposure help regulate attention, support emotional regulation, and offer a natural, low‑pressure space for children to move, explore, and connect with others.

Therapeutic horticulture for children and youth

Therapeutic horticulture—structured, guided gardening activities with therapeutic goals—has been shown to support children and youth in several key areas (Root in Nature, 2024; Ozbreed, 2024):

Mental health and emotional regulation: Children often report feeling calmer and more focused after participating in therapeutic gardening.
Social skills and connection: Gardening in small groups encourages cooperation, communication, and shared responsibility.
Attention and behavior: For children with ADHD, autism, or other neurodevelopmental needs, structured horticultural activities can help improve attention span and reduce disruptive behaviors (Ozbreed, 2024; Root in Nature, 2024).
Self‑esteem and competence: Caring for plants and seeing them grow gives children a sense of accomplishment and agency, which can strengthen self‑confidence.

Programs tailored to children with trauma, adversity, or social challenges often use therapeutic gardening as a gentle, inclusive way to build trust, safety, and connection over time (Tandfonline, 2024).

School and community gardening programs

School‑based and community gardening programs are a practical way to bring therapeutic horticulture into children’s everyday lives. A 2025 feasibility study of a gardening program for adolescents with a history of adversity found that structured gardening sessions delivered by occupational therapists were well‑received and associated with improved social connectedness and mental resilience when participants gardened for at least one hour per week (PMC, 2025). Another article on therapeutic school‑garden programs notes that green, nature‑based activities can function as a low‑risk, accessible mental‑health support, especially when added alongside traditional counseling or therapy (HT Institute, 2023).

These programs are effective when they are:

Regular and repeated over time,
Facilitated by supportive adults, and
Designed to match the developmental and emotional needs of the children.

Gardening and mental health more broadly

A 2022 review on gardening and mental health found that gardening improves psychological well‑being and may help prevent or reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression across the lifespan, including in children and youth (PMC, 2022). This means that even simple family gardening or casual outdoor green time can be a valuable mental‑health practice, not just a hobby.

For children and youth, gardening and time in nature are not a replacement for clinical care when serious mental‑health concerns are present, but they can be a powerful complement. They offer a safe, engaging, and low‑pressure space where children can: