RANDPARK RIDGE – The little ones at Love To Learn Montessori Preschool were covered in dirt after planting their precious herbs and vegetables in their tiny garden.
On 28 February, the head of the preschool, Mandy Janse van Rensburg decided to end the month off with a gardening day at the school. The children were all lined up and Janse van Rensburg taught them about the importance of planting and eating healthy food.
Each child dug a hole which left their hands covered in soil. The teachers then handed them the plants and helped them to plant it. At the end of the day, the once empty garden was filled with different types of herbs, vegetables and fruit. They planted watermelons, tomatoes, carrots, peppers and lettuce, to name a few. They also planted some flowers which will later be planted in a different flower bed.
Janse van Rensburg said, “We decided on plant day because we as a Montessori preschool, believe that we should nurture and grow our children independently. I think it is very important that they are able to grow and nurture something. It’s to give them more responsibility and to get them outside more often.”
Janse van Rensburg is implementing new activities and the school has a lot of structured activities planned throughout the year. She’s also planning on teaching the children how to look after animals which she hopes will teach them responsibility. She and is already building an animal enclosure.
They currently have fish and a chinchilla, but they are also going to get bunnies and guinea pigs. Janse van Rensburg also wants to get chickens which the little ones can feed and collect eggs from.
“I think it gives them a different aspect rather than just watching television,” added Janse van Rensburg.
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