Aerial view of the garden, looking toward Field House
Aerial overview of the garden- Aerial overview of the garden
- Aerial view of the crab-shaped labyrinth
- Aerial view of the crab-shaped labyrinth in more detail
- Aerial view of the garden, looking toward Thames River
What is a Cognitive Garden?
Cognition means to acquire knowledge through the senses, experience, and thought. A cognitive garden encourages learning through these three processes while exposing people to nature. While the benefits of nature extend to all ages, young children learn primarily through their senses and a multitude of studies have demonstrated a correlation between sensory stimulation and brain development.
Why a Cognitive Garden?
A critical developmental “window” exists from birth to approximately age seven, during which many neural connections are formed. The greater the variety and scope of sensory stimulation, the more complex the brain structure. Along with the cognitive benefits of nature, there are also well-documented benefits to children that include more confidence, higher self-esteem, and a greater ability to concentrate.
Garden Goals
The goals of this project are to create a garden that encourages cognitive development and experiential learning through sensory stimulation and self-directed play as well as to establish a garden that draws children outside and creates a lasting connection to nature and their community.
Latest Blog Post
- Mid-Winter Check InWow, I haven’t posted in a while! Mary and I have been busy on some projects for adults, working with gardens that target increased cognitive functioning as opposed to gardens aimed at cognitive development in children. As noted in earlier posts, even though the design focus of this garden is on young children, it is […]Posted on February 4, 2020
Contact Me
| Phone: | (860) 271-5524 |
|---|---|
| E-mail: | annette.montoya@uconn.edu |
| Address: | University of Connecticut Avery Point 1084 Shennecossett Rd Groton, CT 06340 Note: Garden is located next to Parking Lot B, adjacent to the Campus Safety Building |