Children helping out around the farm is a great way to learn responsibility, builds character, creates a solid work ethic, reduces opportunities for kids to get into trouble and teaches practical life skills. In an age where schools have cut back on time devoted to physical education and recess, it can also be an important part of keeping youngsters active and healthy.
Teach your children responsibility and love of the farm by entrusting them with these age-appropriate tasks.
Young-ins: (Toddlers – Age 4)
- Fill up feeders/ watering bins
- Gather eggs
- Brush Animals
- Pick up sticks and rocks
- Harvest from the garden
- Hand you clothespins to hang the laundry
- Help plant the garden
- Let out the animals in the morning
- Weed the garden
- Sweep the patio
Littles: (Ages 5-8)
- Everything above, plus:
- Learn proper procedures to milk animals
- Candle hatching eggs
- Rake leaves
- Weed the garden
- Hang the laundry
- Tidy up the yard
- Rinse off vegetables
- Clean up after the dogs
- Take out the compost
Tweens: (Ages 9-12)
- Everything above, plus:
- Milk animals
- Assist in giving animals baths
- Learn to trim hooves of smaller farm animals
- Help give medications/wormers to animals
- Assist with the business side of the farm
- Shovel snow
- Paint a fence
- Harvest fruits and vegetables
- Organize tools
Teen+
- Everything above, plus:
- Move animals to new pasture
- Till the garden
- Trim hooves of all animals
- Bathe animals
- Build/repair fences or pens
- Operate necessary farming machinery(tractors, mowers, tillers, etc.)
- Assist in births of farm animals
- Clean troughs and feeders
- Help manage the business of the farm
Royal Crest Farm 