One of the best ways to get children interested in farming is to get them playing with farm toys early. You can teach them all kinds of useful things, including how to raise different animals, grow crops, and more. It could be the inspiration for a future as a farmer.
If you are planning to use toys to teach children specifically about raising cattle, there are a few crucial things you should cover. We want to have a look at them here so you know what to focus on.
What do they need?
The ideal place to start is exploring what cattle need. It’s important to show children the importance of a good diet, space, regular vet checks, and other key things that have an impact on health and wellbeing.
A crucial thing to teach children is that cattle need different things depending on their breed and age. For example, younger cows need a diet to help them grow and build their immune system. Older cows on the other hand need nutrients to help maintain their health. Additionally, it’s important to show that dairy cattle and beef cattle have big differences in what they need. Farm toys can be really useful here.
Shelter
Another vital thing to teach children is that cattle need the right kind of shelter at different times of the year. Ultimately, they’ll be healthiest and happiest when they feel comfortable and safe. So, providing suitable housing and barns, especially when it is cold, is key.
Space
When cattle aren’t safely inside sheltering, they’ll be spending time outside in the fields. It’s a good idea to teach children about crucial things here like making sure a field is safe and secure. More importantly, ensure they learn about herd sizes and how to ensure animals have enough space. Tell them about the downsides of overstocking, including health problems.
Vets
Next, it’s crucial that children learn about how important health checks are. They probably already know some of this from having to visit the doctor themselves. However, it’s good to expand it to show why cattle need regular visits from vets. You can show them the different things a vet will check using farm toys, including their body, hoofs, and breathing.
Handling
All budding farmers need to know how to handle cattle safely. It is vital for the health and wellbeing of the animals as well as the safety of farmers. You can use toys to teach them about this in a very safe setting. For example, you can show how to behave around cattle and how to move them around farms. You can even show how to manage them in terms of using equipment like chutes and crushes.
Breeding
Finally, although it can be a difficult topic, it is important that children learn about reproduction. It’s a core aspect of farming. There’s a lot to understand here, including breeding, caring for pregnant cows, calving, and raising calves. Give them the chance to ask questions.
Farm toys are more useful than many people think
A lot of parents look at what their children are playing with and just focus on them having fun. While that is crucial, it’s also vital to think about what they are learning and how play can support their development. Plus, you can help to shape how they see the world and future career goals.
If you want high quality farm toys that are fun to play with and great for learning too, JS Hubbuck Ltd has some fantastic ones. The best are from Bruder. They specialise in realistic versions of real vehicles, including ploughs and more. You can contact us if you have any questions or want to order.