3 Life Skills Farm Girls Learn Before Turning 3

Ever wonder what kind of life skills farm girls learn at such a young age? 

Life skills farm girls learn can start at such an early age. When they are involved in the day-to-day activities with you, you’ll be so surprised at what their little minds pick up.

My oldest turns three tomorrow. As I look back at pictures from the year and reminisce, I can’t believe what she has learned in the past year. Her daddy jokes that she knows more about animals than most adults. I can believe it.

She has learned to feed bottle babies, give an injection, pour feed from the grain cart, and steer the tractor wheel.

But the three biggest life skills she has learned will mean more to her growth and development than any skill she has learned thus far.

Here are 3 big life skills farm girls learn before they turn the big three years old.

How to Embrace Responsibility

You may not think a two-year-old can learn responsibility. But, they can. And they love it.

Mylee owns her jobs and chores. One minute, she’s next to me in the yard. The next minute she’s gone. I look around and see her at the chicken house fetching eggs. Or filling up a can of dog food for the dog.

I don’t even have to ask. She knows what needs to be done.

There are several ways to teach little ones about the skill of responsibility. It starts with letting them giving them jobs, showing them how to complete them and letting them take ownership.

Mylee loves the animals so she has animal chores. She feeds the pets. She gathers the eggs. She waters the pigs. And loves every minute of it.

I still need to guide her with her responsibilities. Sometimes she gets busy and forgets to do her chores. As her parent, I’m there to guide her and remind her how important her chores and responsibilities are.

How to Make Friends

I’ve noticed she’s been really into making friends this year. Even friends who don’t talk back.  She says her best friend is Sage the Beagle.

Farm girls desire friends just like any other kid. I’ve found it’s important to socialize her with other kids as much as possible.

When we’re home, she plays with her animal friends. But, when we are off the farm, her shy little self longs to have a friend to hold hands with, hug and chase.

It’s important to me as her parent that her needs for real friends is met. Activities, such as gymnastics and library story hour, are some ways she can meet other kids her age who she will one day be in school with. To me, this is one of the most important life skills farm girls learn.

Because every parent wants their child to have friends they can grow and learn with. Even if it hurts inside that they will be grown up someday.

How to Count 

What? My two-year-old can count? Just another good life skill farm girls learn at an early age.

Yes. She’s been able to count to 10 all by herself for quite a while now. Because at the end of every day, we count our sheep, goats, and calves when they come in to sleep from the pasture. We count the chickens in the coup to make sure they are all there.

We are counting everything (correctly) now. It’s been amazing to see her pick up numbers so easily just by making sure the animals are all there.

Because she is right there with me each evening, she has picked up counting like a charm.

She has watched, listened and picked up numbers at a very early age. She understands the sequence from 1-10. She can also use her fingers correctly to show the numbers as she states them.

The fact she can count amazes people. But, it’s part of farm life and one of the life skills farm girls learn.

Many People Think She’s Older

My two-year-old has been mistaken time and time again for a four-year-old. But, she’s still a two-year-old. She’s not gifted or a genius. She will not start preschool yet.

Yet, she’s a beautiful, smart and dedicated farm girl. She’s dedicated to our way of life and everything with it.

Also, I’m hopeful these life skills will help make her future life a little more easier. Learning numbers so early will hopefully help with math homework someday. Responsibility and hard work skills will help her find a good job or have great referrals when that day comes.

While these skills will be important for her future, she needs good friends to help her through the growing pains of life. Learning social skills now will help her to make friends long into the future. It takes time for a shy little girl to make friends, but she tries. And the more she tries, the easier it will be.

As my little girl turns three years old, I can’t wait to see what this year will bring for her and for me. As her mother, I’m living her journey with her. And what an incredible journey it has been so far to see her change and grow!

Happy Birthday, Mylee Ann!

~ Much Love ~