| Research shows that experience with nature provides restorative benefits. This study seeks to examine if gardening affects the perceived social adjustment of low-income urban children. Head Start children took part in indoor gardening activities using a self-contained gardening system. The Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children, a Nature/Nutrition Questionnaire, and the Behavioral Assessment System for Children were used. Although there was no effect of gardening on social adjustment, there was a change in the perceived peer acceptance scores suggesting that the act of gardening may play a role in the development of a positive sense of peer acceptance. Further, there was a significant effect of gardening exposure of children's desire to learn more about gardening. |
