It was Kate who reminded me that today was the day she and daddy were going to be planting the seeds they purchased at the local hardware store awhile back. No surprise there. Kate is my little garden girl and has a memory as big as an elephant. So, yes it is Earth Day and yes, we are planting seeds which will grow into giantic sunflowers taller (and uglier) than me. I am not a fan of the big happy, sunny flower, their size and look sort of scares me. Which is exactly why Kate loves them. They are ridiculously easy to grow which makes for a great pick (pun intended) for little gardeners.
Being the sensory seeker, gardening is the perfect activity for my little Kate. Often times, you will find that sensory seeking often goes along with CAS. Its all apart of the motor-neurolgical system that is underlying the speech disorder. These kids are constantly on the move, they seek out stimulus and can’t seem to get enough of a good thing. They may be described as a “dare-devil” or the “Energizer Bunny.”
So what does gardening do for these kids? Lots!
- Digging in dirt and playing with mud is a sensory experience
- Toting around buckets of dirt or water is considered “heavy work”
- Pushing, pulling and stomping work those large muscles
- Fine motor work can be found in handling small seeds
- Filling and pushing a wheelbarrow (more heavy work)
- Smelling flowers=sensory
- Kid-sized rakes, shovels and trowls can be beneficial (to your yard) and empowering (to the little people in your life)–just make sure they have clear parameters as to where they can do their “work”
Have fun and plant a tree while you’re at it. The Earth will thank you!
Leslie A. Lindsay 
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