Homesteading is a lifestyle choice that can have numerous benefits for families. It offers a chance to live off the land, grow your food, and enjoy a slower pace of living. While homesteading with kids can seem like a daunting challenge, getting your children involved can make the experience both rewarding and enjoyable. Here are some tips for incorporating kids into the homesteading lifestyle.
1. Start Small
It is essential to start small when introducing kids to the homesteading lifestyle. You don’t want to overwhelm them with an avalanche of activities, and they may not appreciate the value of the lifestyle.
Small activities like gardening, cooking, and nature walks can help ease them into the homesteading experience. These activities will give kids a better appreciation for God’s creation and the resources He has given us while allowing them to enjoy themselves.
2. Make it Fun
Incorporating kids into homesteading activities should be fun. Enjoying the activities together will encourage children to develop a positive relationship with the lifestyle and the world around them. For example, if you’re gardening, make it a point to turn it into a game by seeing who can spot the first sprout or who can pull out the most weeds. If you’re harvesting fruits or vegetables, encourage your children to help in the cooking process and create a fun, delicious meal as a family.
3. Teach Them Sustainability
It’s essential for kids to learn about the importance of sustainability in homesteading. Explain how sustainable living benefits the environment and the family, and educate them on the importance of reducing waste. For example, teach them how to compost or how to give scraps to the family’s animals as feed.
4. Get Them Involved in Animal Care
Farms and homesteads often have numerous animals that require care. Involve your children in caring for the animals, whether it’s feeding the chickens, collecting eggs, or milking a cow. Teaching them to respect animals and the work they do will help them develop a sense of responsibility and compassion. Caring for animals can also teach kids about the circle of life and the importance of caring for living things.
See our kids’ animal chores here.
5. Encourage Physical Activities
Homesteading can be a physically demanding lifestyle that requires stamina and endurance. Encouraging kids to participate in activities like gardening, chopping wood, or raising animals will help them develop their physical abilities. Consistency is essential, and incorporating these activities into daily routines will help build healthy habits.
6. Incorporate Educational Opportunities
Homesteading offers diverse educational opportunities for children. From learning about different plant species to understanding the benefits of composting, the homesteading lifestyle provides an excellent platform for both formal and informal learning. Use homesteading as an opportunity to teach your kids about history, math, and science. You can even use the experience to teach your kids basic life skills like cooking, cleaning, and basic repairs.
7. Let Them Make Mistakes
In the homesteading lifestyle, it is essential to let kids make mistakes. As a parent or caregiver, it’s natural to want to protect your children from mistakes. However, homesteading is a learning opportunity, and mistakes are an integral part of that. Encourage them to take calculated risks, make mistakes, and learn from them. It will help them build confidence, resilience, and independence that will serve them well throughout their lives.
8. Be Patient
Homeschooling can be challenging, and homesteading is no different. It’s essential to be patient while introducing kids to the homesteading lifestyle. While you may be well-versed in homesteading, it can still be scary or intimidating for children, especially if they are used to a more urban or suburban lifestyle. Encouragement, gentle guidance, and plenty of praise can help ease them into the homesteading lifestyle.
Homesteading can be an incredibly rewarding lifestyle with numerous benefits for families. By incorporating your children into your homesteading activities, it can become an enjoyable experience that brings your family closer together. From teaching kids the importance of sustainability to encouraging physical activities, there are many opportunities to involve kids in homesteading. By taking small steps, making it fun, and being patient, you can create a lifelong love for a homestead lifestyle in your children.
We include our kids by having them help feed and care for the animals and tend to the garden! They are still little but as the grow they will take on bigger tasks like chopping wood for the winter.
I love that! I think that is the best, if you can start them little. Even before we had acreage, we had a garden, and my littles loved helping in it, or even just playing in the dirt.