CHILDREN thrive in natural learning environments and interacting with animals that they may not experience at home. The Farmhouse is the real deal – not only do they have chickens, ducks, rabbits and guinea pigs, but there’s also lizards, cows, sheep and goats. You’d have to be blindfolded to miss the delight on a child’s face when they interact with animals but there’s much more to children and animal interactions than meets the eye. When children have opportunities to spend time with animals, it’s about much more than just stimulating their senses. Yes, they love furry cuddles and experiencing the different ways that animals look, eat, move, sound and feel – but animal interactions can actually improve children’s social interaction, reduce stress and anxiety and increase motivation and learning. Children’s experiences with animals provide a gateway to learning about science, nature, and sustainability, lifecycles, habitats, as well as the importance of conservation in an age-appropriate way. Children also benefit from fine and gross motor skill development through activities like feeding, grooming, and handling the animals. Linguistically, children learn to describe their observations, ask questions, and participate in storytelling related to animals. Animals have long been embraced by The Farmhouse as a valuable resource in supporting and enriching children’s learning. And when you let children name them? Well that’s entertaining too!
