You can usually tell what a farmer raises just by driving down a farm lane, whether it’s dairy cows, corn, beef, hogs or children. A tree house in the old oak tree, a swing set in the yard, a tricycle next to the garage and a whole slew of miniature farming implements in the barn are all surefire signs that there is a miniature farmer on the payroll.

We all know that the farm is a perfect place to raise a family, but only if the farmer can remain productive while including every member of the family in the operation. There’s nothing that can slow chores down like a bored toddler throwing a tantrum.

Of course, when left to their own devices, any farm kid can keep busy, but it’s the type of busy that at some point involves things like “calf rodeos” and “riding our Little Tikes car down the biggest hill we can find,” which can very well lead to new family stories like “that trip to the ER,” and “the time brother had to have stitches.” (Amazingly, the Moore family has yet to have any of those family stories, except for “the time that Cassidy tried to climb the fence and landed on Tucker’s head.”) After a lot of trial and error, we’ve found a few ways to positively harness all that energy on the Moore farm:

Footie pajamas

OK, this isn’t really a way to keep kids busy, but this is something every toddler parent needs to know. Footie pajamas are toddler long underwear, only better. We have them in pretty much every weight and size – no socks to fall down inside their boots, no pant legs to ride up, and their bellies are always covered! In very cold weather, we layer overalls over them and socks underneath.

Put them to work

We have a full set of child-sized rakes, shovels, brooms and a wheelbarrow and a whole list of chores that they can “help” with. One of the most rewarding moments for me as a farming parent was sitting in the audience when our kindergartener gave a presentation on one of the habits of being a leader. He and his presentation partner, an eighth grader named Will, both chose examples of work on their family farms to illustrate utilizing their leadership abilities at home. When asked what his favorite activity to do during chores was, it came as no surprise when he said, “Brushing my calf.”

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Moo-vie night

Every so often, when I want to keep a closer eye on things, I bring our old laptop to the barn and play a video. Felisha the cow also enjoys movie night.

The sandbox

Cassidy listed his favorite outside activity as “playing with dump trucks.” Our tiestall barn is sand-bedded, so an empty stall is the perfect place for dump trucks and diggers. If you don’t happen to have sand bedding, you can use a small children’s swimming pool filled with sand or corn. If space is an issue, an “under-the-bed” type tote filled with rice is lightweight and easy to move and store.

Set boundaries

Our summertime rules are that the boys have to stay where I can see them from the end of the barn and they need to be able to hear me (and come running if I call). Most days that means playing just outside the barn door, but occasionally that means riding bikes or playing in the sprinkler.

The three R’s

I can still remember the stories that my dad told while milking cows. Stories about when he was young, stories from books he had read, stories that I had heard a million times over again. In our barn, we’ve played the same Harry Potter and Laura Ingalls Wilder CDs until they’ve worn out. We also identify letters on the cows’ tags, count how many cows are left to be milked and even work on colors (admittedly, now that we have a 95 percent Holstein herd, this is more difficult).

Keeping children involved in the family farm starts young. Working alongside our children is the dream of most family farmers, and keeping them involved starts early!  PD

Heather Moore is a dairy farming mama herself, raising two little boys (and a third on the way!) with her husband, Brandon. The Moore family has a 50-cow dairy and custom feeds 800 head of beef cattle near Maquoketa, Iowa. Heather is also the executive director of a non-profit child care center, while Brandon is a district sales representative for a feed company. When she is not chasing around cows and kids, you'll find her volunteering, cooking and very occasionally, sleeping.

PHOTO: "Moo-vie" night with an old laptop and a DVD can effectively occupy a toddler during chore time. Photo by Heather Moore.