A new study published in Acta Psychologica suggests that getting young children involved in gardening at preschool may help them eat better, move more, and develop a stronger connection to nature, even over just a few months.

Gardening has long been seen as a calming and educational hobby for adults, but in recent years, educators and researchers have begun to explore its benefits for young children. With many children spending more time indoors, using screens, and eating processed foods, concerns have grown about declining physical activity and limited contact with the natural world. Schools and childcare centers are increasingly seen as important places to reintroduce nature-based learning.

Led by Sunjin Jeong from the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science in Korea, the researchers behind the new study were interested in whether gardening could support children’s overall development during early childhood—a period when lifelong habits around food, movement, and social interaction begin to form. They focused on preschool-aged children, an age group that has been less studied than older students.