Garden Paediatrics

OUR VISION

At Garden Paediatrics, we believe that, as part of a child’s “village” it is important to work with kids and their caregivers to nurture optimal health through holistic, personalized care.

Now, imagine yourself walking through a beautiful garden. Pay attention to your senses. Take in the colours, fragrances, textures, patterns, similarities, differences. Notice the beauty that each of these plants bring in their unique wholeness, contributing to the collective beauty around you. Just as each plant shares its own unique contribution to the garden, so does each child, to the world around them.

Now, think about where each plant comes from. Each starts off as a seed (like a child born with their own genetic makeup), and requires sunshine (symbolizing the unconditional love, support and pride of caregivers), water (symbolizing the support of friends and family), nutrients (symbolized by community supports such as doctors, teachers, volunteers, etc), and optimal air and temperature (environments in which they spend their time) in order to grow to their fullest potential.

There are certain environments and factors that can enhance a child’s health and wellbeing (like love and support), and certain environments and factors that can harm them. Much like a drought, toxic exposures, abuse or other negative experiences can harm a plant, they can also harm a child in the short and long term.

The good news is, every one of us has the opportunity to positively impact a child’s life - so they each can flourish. Each simple act can nurture a child’s health and wellbeing, and many a time we may not even know the impact until much later (if we are still around to see it!).

Perhaps, we can look around into the community - and world - someday and see the impact of our hard work and love many years ago. Like a garden, we may see the impact of the love and care we have given to the crops, months later. If we pay close attention.

As Rabindranath Tagore said, “The one who plants trees, knowing that they will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life”.

We are all part of this vital “village” of support for kids and their families. We each have the unique opportunity to make a positive impact on a child’s life.

We each play an important role in nurturing the garden of the future.

As Neil Postman said, “Kids are the messages we send to a time we will not see.”

We are so glad you are here, and thank you for your contribution to nourishing this garden.