«We believe that the positive experiences kids have in the garden, especially at an
early age, provide a
vital foundation for developing a lifelong ethic of stewardship for the Earth,» said Jim Flint, of the National Gardening Association (NGA).
We contend that childhood temperament shapes the manner in which individuals perceive their surroundings, which influences their social interactions in a reciprocal manner and eventual social and mental health outcomes.17 This dynamic is particularly evident in
early adolescence during which the emergence of the peer group as a more salient influence on development coincides with sharp increases in psychopathology, 16 particularly SAD.6, 15,18 Temperament also shapes
vital cognitive processes, such as attention and certain executive processes which provide the
foundation from which children perceive and respond to social cues in the environment.