This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
Keeping Children Busy on the Farm During the Long Holiday ¶
As the school recess due to Covid-19 has been extended to January 2021, many parents are left wondering how to keep their children busy. Farming activities offer a great way to engage children meaningfully and provide them with physical and mental health.
Engaging children in farm work will not only teach them where food comes from but also help them produce it and understand how to relate with animals. Through farm activities, children learn life and safety skills, get exposed to complex science topics, and appreciate nature and its vast resources.
Age-Appropriate Farm Jobs for Children ¶
Children can be involved in farm work from a young age, and their duties should be allocated based on their age and the type of farm enterprise. Here are some age-appropriate farm jobs for children:
2-5 years ¶
At this age, children are curious and natural helpers. They can assist with simple farm chores such as collecting eggs, helping with milking, and watering small stock. They can also be provided with toys such as tractors and lorries to play with.
6-10 years ¶
Children at this age can be allowed to convert playing gardens into miniature farms. They can be provided with inputs and agronomical information on crops and livestock that have short cycles, and they can implement a project from beginning to end.
11-15 years ¶
Children in this age group can be introduced to the real farming world, where they are held accountable for their deeds. They can be allowed to milk, use agrochemicals, and be involved in plant cycles such as ploughing, planting, weeding, harvesting, transportation, and storage of produce.
16-17 years ¶
Children in this age group have reached an age of wanting to spend money of their own and peer pressure is high. However, they have stamina and can carry out most farm work. They can operate machinery such as milking machines, maize threshers, and poultry incubators.
Should Children be Paid for Their Work? ¶
This is a contentious issue not only in agriculture but also in household chores and other businesses. In countries that allow a person to employ family members, farmers get tax relief as payment to the family is considered an expenditure. Some people claim paying children does not sustain their interest in work, but if one chooses to pay the child, the wage should be complementary to the work done.
There are many apps such as the “busykid” that not only assists parents in paying their kids but also help the children to save, donate, invest, and spend the earned cash. Payment can be in cash or in kind.
