When it comes to finding fun for small children on our farm, we have it or we make it. We have even been known to “go find it” as in the case this past weekend when the grandchildren were here for a few days. A family farm is no place to be bored. There is too much to do and too much to learn – off the i-pad.
Without a proper pond to fish in this weekend, we made do with the water trough. The kids thought this was great fun to use the cow’s “water bucket” to fish from, and they didn’t stop there. They had to get in. Even more fun was the use of the water hose. Squirting everyone and everything, including giving the cows a shower, was a much more interesting sport than wading around in a kiddie pool.
Letting the goats out to play during all that fun only added to the drama – I mean to say, challenge! However, the wisteria tree did get a badly needed trim.
An interesting thing is that when small children truly enjoy animals, the more variety they get to experience, the happier they are. Some they approve of, some they will pet, some they want to take home, and others they don’t. But they are still interested in each and every breed. We decided to introduce them to a few they haven’t been around at all or very much by taking them to a local friend’s family farm. Here they met llamas, alpacas and crias, a dessert tortoise, pot bellied pig and all sorts of chickens, ducks, guinea fowl and farm dogs.
Grandchildren are fun.
It’s fun and interesting to enjoy things from their perspective all over again.
Happiness is found in furry and feathered friends.
And the Lord God made them all!
~ Gwen of IRISH ACRES