Farm Chores for Kids: 6 Tips to Help You
A new addition to the farm!
Since they could walk our kids have been a part of helping do chores on the farm. As they have grown, we have worked hard to incorporate them into all aspects of this way of life. Need help having your kids help on the farm? Here are some tips to help you implement those chores and be successful.
But first, please meet our sweet new calf – Curly. He’s an Angus and Holstein cross breed and was born at the beginning of November.
My kids have all had calves they’ve raised since they were around 9 or 10 years old. They feed, water, and even play with them. This teaches the kids responsibility and the importance of taking care of something. Well, I wanted this duty too. To be honest in all the years we have lived here I’ve never had my very own calf! Can you believe it? 15 years and I’ve never had one to call my own.
I proudly announced I wanted my own calf and my family teased me that it would never get fed. I joked that they haven’t starved yet. How hard could this be?! Well, insert Curly my sweet little calf.
Except here we are one month later and I never have fed or watered him. My faither-in-law has done all the calf chores for me. He offered and said he might as well, because he feeds all the other beef cows. I’m never going to live this down with my family! HAHA.
It got me thinking about how our kids have just always been a part of the farm from cows to hay to pigs. My husband has been a key reason our kids love this way of life, because this is how he was born and raised. We want to instill old fashioned hard work ethic into our kids.
6 Ways We Have Had Our Kids Help with Farm Chores
- Start ’em Young – Since they could walk our kids have been at the farm – riding tractors, feeding calves, and playing on haybales. They develop a comfort level being a part of everything.
2. Do Not Demand Perfection – You may have things down exactly how you want them, but your children will not do things the way that you do. Let go of the expectation that each task should be done a certain way or your way. Instead, allow them to learn without harsh expectations.
3. Lead By Example – Like it or not, our children learn by our example. Our actions speak louder than words in our lives and they emulate what we do. By leading them in the way we take care of things and animals, they will in turn learn this as well.
4. Cater the Chores to Their Age – Our kids have never been given a task they cannot do appropriately for their age. If they cannot carry a heavy load, do not give them one to carry. Instead start small and work your way up.
5. Safety First – A farm is not a place you can let your guard down. Do not give children chores that are not age appropriate and always make sure you follow safe protocols.
6. Provide Encouragement – A complement will go a long way. Congratulate them on a job well done.
