In keeping with the Children's Medical Center's mission and value statement of Family Centered Care, we further recognize a need for a comprehensive and coordinated bereavement program. They may have had amputations or brain injuries, or have cancer, cerebral pausy, spinabifida, mental retardation, or visual impairments. Each activity is designed to improve a specific skill. Watering with a hose or watering can, raking and digging soil, and moving potted plants improves gross motor skills of the arms and body. Fine motor skills, such as finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination, are developed through planting seeds, weeding and pruning, using a spray bottle, removing harmful bugs from plants, and making and using plant identification labels.
Visual discrimination is increased by plant and flower identification tasks.
Participants learn about social interaction, too, when they work and socialize with other patients, staff, and volunteers. Members of the Rotary Club designed and built the garden's raised bed. Local nurseries and home building supply stores donated tools and landscaping material. Giant Food financed the greenhouse, and Master Gardeners helped in a number of ways.