Inexpensive summer fun for dairy kids [Hoard's Dairyman Post]

Silage bag slip-n-slide, backyard camping, calf bedding sand piles, and nature exploring all lead to summer farm fun.

Dairy farm kids find lots of ways to make their own summer fun. Once their chores are done, I allow our kids to free range as much as possible. Free ranging develops their creativity, confidence, and independence.

But I think every parent has heard, “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.”

We try our best to make time for summer activities like going to the public library or spending the afternoon swimming or fishing. There are times, though, when taking care of cows and crops keeps us on the farm. That’s when options for at-home fun come in handy.

Here are four inexpensive ways for dairy farm kids to have more fun on the farm this summer:

1. Silage bag slip-n-slide

We made a giant slip-n-slide out of a leftover piece of a silage bag plastic, a couple garden hoses, and a sprinkler. We send the kids to the slip-n-slide during evening milking and run water from the plate cooler. The kids get warm water to play in and we cool the milk faster. Plus, it’s a way for our kids to have water fun without the need for constant adult supervision.

2. Backyard camping

We usually go on one camping trip each summer with my family, but this year our schedules didn’t line up. So we decided to go camping in our backyard.

We set up the tent, blew up the air mattress, and hauled the sleeping bags outside. We started a campfire in our fire pit (which is made from an old tractor tire rim) and roasted marshmallows for s’mores.

Backyard camping is actually way less stress than real camping and our kids were just as excited about it.


[Read the rest of this post in the HD Notebook at Hoard's Dairyman.]