If there’s one thing family farming teaches kids, it’s life skills. An added perk is these skills will follow them through adulthood. My kids just so happen to love all things farming right now. Living the traveling lifestyle, they are amazed by watching the fields transform from dirt to full-grown corn or cotton fields. They love the tractors, combines and all other farming equipment too. Thinking of all that could be learned, I set out to create a fun farming unit study to help teach certain life skills and close out the school year.
Are life skills considered homeschooling?
I get this question more often than not because life skills weren’t classes always offered in school for most parents. Sure, there may have been the typical home economics, but when it comes to the other skills, those are practically non-existent. The short answer to the question is, yes. Life skills are absolutely considered homeschooling. In fact, most of what we’re teaching our children can fall under some life skill category. However, when placing intentional focus on them, you’ll begin to see how cooking, meal planning, working, doing chores, and the like are all an important part of learning.
6 Life Skills that Family Farming Teaches Kids
In terms of teaching life skills, using something we’re all familiar with is a plus. Whether you live on, near, or nowhere near a farm, it’s often a topic or unit study taught because of how they operate and what farms provide. The next time you teach a farm unit in your homeschool, include these six life skills that family farming teaches kids.
It teaches kids about responsibility.
Even if you don’t have chickens, cows, horses, and the works, you can still teach your kids the kind of responsibility that comes with farming. Consider having them start a mini herb or greens farm, which can easily be indoors or outdoors. Using a garden, your kids can learn how to care for it and be responsible for giving it everything its needs to thrive.
It teaches kids about communication.
In our technologically advanced society, communication is becoming weaker and weaker. This can’t be the case when you have the responsibility of growing vegetables or seeing to the family pet. Use this opportunity to teach your kids how to communicate with their siblings (if any) and with you. Encourage them to ask questions, seek help when needed, and give updates on how their “farm” is doing.
It teaches kids how to care for other things.
With farming comes the responsibility of caring for other things. If they lack watering their garden, then they won’t reap the harvest. If they don’t take care of their animals or family pets, then they could get sick. There is a level of selflessness that comes with family farming and it’s a character trait that should never be lost.
It teaches problem-solving skills.
If there’s one thing in life that we as adults know all too well, it’s problem-solving. We don’t always have the answers and that’s when problem-solving skills 101 kicks in. If children aren’t given opportunities to problem-solve, it may hinder their ability to do it later in life. Family farming teaches kids this skill with plenty of practice.
It teaches work ethic.
There’s no slacking when it comes to family farming. Your children will learn how to put in their fair share of hard work, but with a great reward. The harder they work, most likely the greater their reward – and vice versa. Work ethic is something kids will need in life hands down.
It teaches a greater appreciation for animals and food.
It’s easy to go to the grocery store and pick up a fresh bundle of greens, fruit, and meat. But when you’re on the backend of growing and raising those things, there’s a new level of appreciation to embrace. Teach your children about this part of farming and they’ll have a newfound understanding on how and where their food comes from.
Farming Unit
I created a Farming Unit to help you teach your kids all about family farming. This resource is over 100 pages long and includes:
- Coloring pages in plain, manuscript and cursive
- Word Searches
- Word Scrambles
- How many words can you make?
- Matching tiles for preschoolers
- Simple Farm Sudoku (of sorts)
- Design-your-own Farm
Your preschoolers through elementary aged kids will love creating their own farm, playing matching games, doing puzzles and coloring pictures about farming. Head over to my shop and download this printable pack now!
Download your Farming & Animal Pack today
This 107-page Farm & Animal pack is full of activities perfect for PreK-5th grade. Includes: coloring pages, word searches, word scrambles, matching, Sudoku, design your own farm pages and MUCH, MUCH MORE!!
To download the Farm & Animal Pack, simply add it to your cart and then checkout. **Upon checkout, you will be added to my Weekly Newsletter list.**
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Annette lived many years as an exhausted wife of 1 and mother of 6. Grab your fuzzy blanket, pour your favorite drink, and browse through our encouraging tips, printables, and curriculum options. Read more about me and the ministry here at In All You Do