Farm Activities for Toddlers: Learning About Where Food Comes From

Farm topics are always a huge hit with young children. The animals, the noises, the food - it captures their attention and opens up rich conversations about the world around them. Here are some activities to bring farm learning to life at home.

Glove Cow Milking

This simple activity is a wonderful way to show children where milk comes from and is fantastic for hand strengthening and hand-eye coordination.

You will need a clean rubber glove, water, a needle and a small container. Prick the end of one or two fingers with a needle and fill the glove with water, tying the open end securely. Children grasp and squeeze the fingers downward to simulate milking a cow - it is always met with a mixture of concentration and giggles.

Baby Animals Name Game

Introduce children to the names for animal babies: calf (cow), lamb (sheep), foal (horse and donkey), cub (bear and lion), kid (goat), chick (chicken). Make it into a matching game with pictures, or call them out on a walk and see who can remember.

Chick Craft

Paint a paper plate yellow. Once dry, cut it in half. Cut an orange beak and legs from card and add a googly eye. Assemble your baby chick. A simple, satisfying craft that can lead into a lovely conversation about where eggs come from.

Books About Farms

Reading about farm animals is a brilliant way to extend the learning. Some of our favourites at Little Starlings are the Usborne Look Inside a Farm, Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, and any of the Axel Scheffler farm animal books.

Dean City Farm

When the weather is good, Dean City Farm in Merton is a genuinely wonderful local day out for Balham families. It is a short drive or bus ride from SW12 and offers meet-and-greets with the animals, pony rides and pig feeding. It is a registered charity and a real hidden gem in south London.

At Little Starlings in Balham, the children grow things in our garden and talk about food and nature throughout the year. If you would like to come and see us, book a tour.