Homesteading Skills to Teach Your Kids

Do you want to teach your kids skills that will help them be more self-sufficient? Consider introducing them to the art of homesteading! Homesteading is a form of sustainable living that has seen a resurgence in popularity over the past few years, allowing families across America to become more connected with their food sources and natural environment. Through this timeless practice, children can gain an appreciation for hard work, respect for nature, and the satisfaction of creating something from nothing. Whether you want your kids to just have knowledge of these key life lessons or become more deeply involved in some aspects of modern-day homesteading, read on below as we explore which skills they could learn!

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Gardening

Teaching your kids homesteading skills is a great way to instill life lessons while having fun. Gardening can provide the opportunity to explore, discover and learn how plants grow, which makes it an excellent educational activity for children.

Plus, teaching them how to garden can help prepare them for the challenges of adulthood by introducing concepts such as patience, science and problem-solving.

Gardening also helps kids understand the importance of self-reliance and resourcefulness; encouraging them to be resilient no matter what difficulties come their way. All in all, getting kids into gardening is a wonderful way to develop important life skills that will last them a lifetime.

Cleaning

Teaching your kids homesteading skills, like how to make natural cleaners and use them around the home, is an important life skill for them to learn. Not only do these nontoxic, environmentally friendly techniques help save money, but they also give your children a sense of empowerment when it comes to cleaning their own space as well as keeping themselves and the environment safe.

It’s also a great way for your family to bond as you can spend quality time concocting special mixtures–try adding some essential oils for a pleasant scent and maybe even create colorful labels together. Hopefully once the kids get the hang of it, the work of tidying up will no longer be relegated only to you!

You can learn more about making natural cleaners in our Using Homemade Cleaners article.

Cooking

Teaching your kids how to cook is one of the homesteading skills they will carry with them forever. By teaching cooking from an early age, you not only show them how to make all kinds of food, but also instill a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.

Knowing their way around a kitchen can help them for years to come; it allows them independence, builds self-esteem and trust in themselves, and keeps family meals interesting and delicious!

With that in mind, start setting aside some time for cooking lessons–it’s never too late or too early start homesteading by teaching your little ones how to cook.

Cookies or Bread are a great place to start. Henleigh loves making these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies with me and Marisol loves making Sourdough Bread with me.

Raising Animals

Raising chickens is a homesteading skill that’s as rewarding for kids as it for adults. By taking on the responsibility of caring for hens, children learn an important lesson about where their food comes from and what it takes to produce it.

Not to mention they also get an introduction into animal sciences, nutrition, and other related studies. Plus, if you’re raising your own chickens then you know exactly where your eggs are coming from – no questions asked! It’s definitely an experience worth investing in.

Learn more about what chickens can teach our kids – HERE!!

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Wood Working

Teaching your kids homesteading skills like woodworking can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. You can teach them how to build, fix and assemble fence posts, tables and chairs. Not only does this give them a sense of accomplishment from completing projects, but it also helps develop their motor skills and manual dexterity.

It is also the perfect opportunity to remind your children of the importance of being able to provide for yourself, which will be a valuable life lesson they can carry with them into adulthood.

If you are looking for a great place to start we love these Grow and Build Kits from Lowes.

Sewing and Mending

Teaching your kids sewing and mending is a homesteading skill that will never go out of style. It’s not enough nowadays to just be able to buy something new every time it breaks or wears out – teaching your kids to repair their own clothing teaches them patience and pride in their hard work. Not only will they learn how to fix a button or stitch up a tear, but these skills are also transferable when it comes to doing repairs around the house in other day-to-day tasks. Allowing them to gain these homesteading skills from an early age is invaluable!

Henleigh has shown a lot of interested in this lately. She loves these Beginner Educational Sewing Kits from Amazon.

All of these homesteading skills are important for kids to learn. They not only teach valuable lessons, but they also give children a sense of responsibility and ownership. What other homesteading skills would you add to this list? Do your kids help out around the homestead? How have they benefited from learning these skills?