Now, some of us live on a farm every day. I am not one of them. Yes, my living room may look like a barnyard some of the time, and my rec room certainly does, but we lack the pigs, cows, and chickens that would give it that true farm-like quality. Also, pigs tend to clean up after themselves more than some members of our household do. This is not to be disparaging of the members of our household, since pigs are very clean animals.
We do have pets – cats, fish, and rats. However, sometimes we like to interact with larger animals as well. We are blessed to have a petting farm close by, and we love to go on farm tours. Sometimes we visit the farm just to feed the rabbits and the ducks and take a walk around the pond, and sometimes we visit to play farmer on the farm tours. This involves grooming the horses, collecting and cleaning eggs, and feeding the animals. Sometimes we even get to stand and help corral the sheep and goats into the barn as the farm closes for the evening. Such fun!
Why visit a farm with your preschooler? Well, so many kids don’t have the chance to see the real-life animals that they see in story books. Animals are not just fiction. Whether it’s on vacation or at a place created for children, visiting a farm is an opportunity for city kids to understand animals as living beings that need food, water, and gentle hands. These animals are sometimes afraid, sometimes placid, and sometimes grumpy, just like we are. If you don’t have pets, it’s even more important to introduce children to animals, whether these animals are bugs in the garden or cows on the farm. Kids are biophilic, which means that they are supposed to be connected to animals – it’s in their nature.
Am I concerned about the mess of visiting the farm? Well, those who have seen me jump enthusiastically into a muddy puddle would realize that I’m not at all worried about mud. We use rain pants to fend off the mess. We do wash our hands often with real soap and water, though, because e coli is not something that we want to bring home.
The only real concern I have is that I’m breeding a horse girl, someone who will want horseback riding lessons when she grows up. Certainly a concern for the pocketbook, anyway.
Do you have farm animals? Do you visit farms with your preschooler?