Hands-On Fun with Feathered and Furry Friends

As the 3 Year Old Kinder children explore where their food comes from, we dove into a hands on experience on the 19th of August, welcoming Farmer Willow and the Myuna farm animals into our space. The children prepared themselves by considering how to show love and care for the animals coming into our space, making connections to the Fruit of the Spirit in the process. This included using self control and gentleness as we held the animals and remembered what direction to stroke them. Farmer Willow gave us cups of animal food and the children buddied up next to each other, holding guinea pigs and rabbits in tubs on their laps. They sat for extended periods of time, stroking their soft fur and observing the ways they moved. The chickens kept us on our toes by snuggling up close and then flapping their wings abruptly when startled!

The children also showed their ability to advocate for their own needs, choosing whether to enter the chaos of the animal pen or to watch from the outside. Farmer Willow brought calm bunnies to those on the outside, for them to stroke. What a wonderful opportunity to treasure God’s creation and to sit and observe (both near and far) how God made animals so different to each other in how they look, move, eat and respond to the world around them.

Grace Cayzer

3 Year Old Kindergarten Teacher