I was not raised on a farm, I am learning as I go but learning is one of those things that you are never too old to do.
I have always heard really good things about 4H so this past year I decided that my children should give it a try and join up with some animals. It has definitely been a good experience and my children have learned so much.
I always thought that 4H was for farm kids, not so, there are so many projects that a suburban kid could do and they are all so well organized and educational. However, for the farm kids, there are some really neat things that they learn about animal husbandry. My children have learned that you can actually wash a chicken (yes, people do this to make the chickens look their best before judging...and you can blow dry them, most of them even like it!)
I have always heard really good things about 4H so this past year I decided that my children should give it a try and join up with some animals. It has definitely been a good experience and my children have learned so much.
I always thought that 4H was for farm kids, not so, there are so many projects that a suburban kid could do and they are all so well organized and educational. However, for the farm kids, there are some really neat things that they learn about animal husbandry. My children have learned that you can actually wash a chicken (yes, people do this to make the chickens look their best before judging...and you can blow dry them, most of them even like it!)
We have learned all about rabbit breeding (see this post). And the educational factor alone has been well worth the effort. So on to the 5 things...
1. The Projects are VERY educational...
(your kids will learn more than you thought possible!)
(your kids will learn more than you thought possible!)
When you are interested in a subject, there is probably a project book about that subject, if not, there are plenty of self determined projects available. Children can take a project on everything from baking, sewing, acting, gardening, robotics, and veterinary care to bicycling, bully prevention, first aid and STEM projects. The project books, however, are meticulously laid out and have so many specifics and different areas to explore that if there is a topic your child is interested in, they will learn ALOT!
2. Kids Learn From Each Other
There is a certain camaraderie that is born when children are working on a project and being challenged by other children. I have found through this year that some of the older children who have already taken projects that my children are now taking have been exceptionally helpful in guiding them. In addition, many of the project books require kids to present their projects to the club they belong to, a great experience as you learn from others.
3. They Gain Invaluable Interview and Public Speaking Experience
When taking projects the goal is for the child to be able to present what they have learned to a judge at your county fair. They are interviewed and have to learn to think on their feet, answer questions respectfully, and articulate themselves. Often times they are also presenting to more than one judge so there is the public speaking platform that comes into play as well.
My daughter at rabbit judging
4. They Can Earn Prizes and Sometimes Cash
When your child joins a 4H club and chooses a project (or many projects) they can earn prizes, accolades and sometimes even cash for their hard work. The project does not have to be a livestock one and the feeling of having "won" something for working hard is something that is invaluable to the self esteem of a child.
5. For Homeschoolers...You Can Use Their Curriculum as an actual School Subject
Yes, it is that detailed. Your child could work on the first aid project and they will learn enough to qualify as an actual school subject, and the bonus? It is mostly hands on as they are to prepare a poster and presentation about what they have learned. If you don't have a 4H group that is a good fit in your area, you can always order the books and just use them as curriculum, even without being a member. I am telling you, this is GOOD stuff and it is very reasonably priced. (here is a link to their educational store)
Are you interested yet? If you need to know where to start HERE is how to find your local 4H groups. I suggest stopping in at a few different meetings that groups hold to find the chapter that is a good fit for you and your child. Our first meeting was with a group that was not fantastic, but when we went to another group, we fit in perfectly!
