Gardening offers young children meaningful opportunities to explore nature, develop healthy eating habits, and engage in hands-on learning. This session will highlight practical ways early childhood educators can integrate garden-based learning into their programs to support nutrition education, outdoor play, and curiosity about where food comes from.

Participants will explore strategies for starting and maintaining simple garden spaces, engaging children in planting and harvesting activities, and connecting garden experiences to cooking and tasting opportunities. The presentation will also share examples from early childhood programs that have successfully incorporated gardening to support healthy habits and outdoor learning.

Tamiko McCullough - Healthy Initiatives Coordinator

Tamiko McCullough is the Healthy Initiatives Coordinator at Wake County Smart Start, where she supports healthy childhood initiatives that promote outdoor play, healthy eating, and physical activity. She also works with Natural Learning Initiative as an Instructional Support Specialist, where she supports online professional development courses and technical assistance related to outdoor learning environments, gardening, and nature-based experiences for young children. With a background in child development and a deep commitment to serving young children and their families, Tamiko is passionate about creating engaging environments and expanding access to opportunities that help children thrive. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and nurturing her growing collection of indoor houseplants. 

This webinar will be recorded and available for viewing on this web page immediately following the presentation.

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Growing Healthy Habits: Garden-Based Learning in Early Childhood