I think often about the type of family culture I want to cultivate within my home. One of the values that my husband and I have is teaching our children to contribute to the family at a young age, teaching them that they are a valued and important member of our family. One of the ways that we do this is through involving our young kids with homestead chores from an early age. Here are 10 farm chores for kids that you could begin involving your children in if they are preschool age or younger.
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Feeding Chickens
Whether you are raising baby chicks or have an established flock, young children can help give chickens food, water, and scraps. Teaching them to care for animals is an important skill that will teach empathy and responsibility.
Collecting Eggs
My 1.5 year old daughter loves to collect chicken eggs. She carries them around, saying, “Egg! Egg! Egg!” She usually wants to carry them inside, wash them, crack them, and make a snack right then and there! It’s a great way to teach kids about cooking and caring about where their food comes from even while they are young.
Starting Seeds
Starting seeds is a time-consuming but relatively simple process. Most kids will love the sensory aspect of wetting down the soil, pressing in a seed, and gently covering them before watering. Read this post to learn about how to start your own seeds.
Planting in Garden
My four-year-old helped me plant a portion of our garden this year, and he was ecstatic! He now knows how to recognize certain crops, when they are ready to harvest, and what plants are where in the garden. It is more work to teach your kids how to garden, but there is nothing like seeing their excitement over their efforts and new-found knowledge!
Watering the Garden
We have drip lines, but we have to water some of our plants with a hose like this until they are more established. My kids love helping with this chore. They usually end up soaked in water, but that’s part of the magic of a summer as a kid, right!? Older kids can also help water indoor seedlings.
Pulling Weeds
My kids love helping pull weeds! They don’t always get them out by the root and it doesn’t keep their attention span for long, but it is a good way to involve them! You might be surprised at how excited many kids are to help with this chore that most adults dread.
Cooking from Scratch
Whether you have a homestead or just enjoy cooking, even young toddlers can help cook from scratch! It’s messy and often involves a lot of patience, but kids love helping in the kitchen. It’s a great skill to begin teaching them at a young age that they will carry with them for a lifetime!
I personally love this cookbook from The Peaceful Press which is specifically designed for cooking with young kids! The recipes are delicious, simple, and kid-friendly! The Challah bread recipe is one of our favorites!
Moving Mulch
We have a small shovel and wheelbarrow for our kids, and they love using their tools to help us move mulch to the garden. It may be a slow process, but it’s a way for them to practice the skill and take part in family projects. We use mulch for our pathways in our no-till garden and food forest, and it usually takes weeks (sometimes months!) to get it all moved.
Setting the Table
Recently, we have been trying to teach our kids to help set the table and clear their plates after dinner. It has led to a few broken dishes, but sometimes they will surprise us and set the table without being asked! A lot of homesteading revolves around the kitchen table, and this is a great way to involve your kids on the homestead!
Sweeping Floors
I honestly despise sweeping. I know, I know. But it’s one of those chores that can be discouraging with young kids and pets, because as soon as you sweep—it needs to be swept again! However, I do know that this is a very important skill to have, and I am starting to teach my children how to sweep dust into a pile. What I consider drudgery, they think of as a fun game. I’m amazed at my children’s positive attitudes and ability to help with a happy heart! Here is a mini broom set for kids.
Teaching children good habits such as how to properly help with chores takes time and patience. It usually is easier to just do it yourself, but prioritizing teaching farm chores for kids is worth the effort and will help your children build confidence as they see their capability even from a young age.
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