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FRENCHIE FARM

Modern Homesteading & Sustainable Farming

in Homesteading Tips

Holiday gift ideas to make homesteading with kids easier

I wasn’t originally planning to share two holiday gift guides on the blog this year. My first gift guide included farm gadgets, warm weather essentials, kitchen favorites, and farm-themed toys. What else could you possible need in a gift guide?! But then it hit me while doing early morning farm chores with two little ones in the snow. Clearly, we need a gift guide all about how to make homesteading with kids easier!

Frenchie Farm homesteading with kids easier
Photo cred: Red Maple Photography

Holiday gift ideas to make homesteading with kids easier

I love doing morning farm chores solo. Don’t get me wrong, I adore my little ones, but I also love starting my mornings with the goats and chickens without worrying about my 17 month old eating chicken poop. Because there’s only so much I can handle when I’m already a sleep deprived mama, it’s before 7am, and I haven’t had any coffee yet. My solution? I sneak out for early morning farm chores while Ben gets ready for work and stays inside with the kids. I truly believe that farm chores are the perfect start to a morning.

The way Ben and I divide chores usually works great, but it’s not foolproof. Sometimes I press snooze too many times and the kids need to come with me in the morning. Other times, we simply want to include our kids as much as possible on the farm. Homesteading teaches young kids incredible life lessons, and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to raise our kids on a farm. With that being said, homesteading with kids is really hard (especially during Chicago winters!) Despite the challenges, we couldn’t imagine raising our little ones any other way.

If you’re trying to figure out what to purchase your favorite homesteader with little ones, then check out my favorite gift ideas to make homesteading with kids easier below!

Babywearing

If you follow me on Instagram, then it’s no surprise that I absolutely love babywearing. If you’re looking for the number one way to make homesteading with (young) kids easier, then babywearing is such a necessity! Depending on the type of babywearing apparatus you choose, you can often times continue wearing little ones through toddlerhood. I personally prefer to use unstructured carriers (baby wraps + slings), while Ben prefers structured carriers. Below are our favorite carriers to make homesteading with kids (so much!) easier.

  • Solly baby wrap: I love using this wrap for newborns – it keeps them supported and super close to your chest. Perfect for snuggling!
  • Ring slings: Ring slings are my absolute favorite way to wear my little ones. Every time I bring Beckham out on the farm, I wear him in a ring sling. He’s a snuggler and loves to stay close, and I don’t need to worry about him picking up and/or eating questionable items. Win win! My two favorite brands are here and here. Bonus points that you can nurse while slinging!
  • Tula: Personally, I think structured carriers are too bulky. With that being said, if Ben babywears, he prefers this carrier over my wraps and slings. (We have the standard black color, but it’s not available via the link.)
Frenchie Farm homesteading with kids easier
Photo cred: Red Maple Photography

Farm gear essentials

In order to make homesteading with kids easier, I prefer to choose farm gear that can be used throughout the seasons. Simply layer with extra warm clothes during the winter months, and ditch the layers during the warmer months.

  • Bibs: These bibs keep clothes clean even when your little one falls down. Less laundry is always win when you live on a farm!
  • Coat: I might have a minor obsession with Carhartt, but I love how warm and durable their products are. Layer underneath with a sweatshirt to stay extra warm, and ditch the coat all together during summer.
  • Boots: These boots are my ALL. TIME. FAVORITE for little ones. They are ridiculously durable and the handles make putting them on super easy. Our kids wear these boots throughout the entire year, but layer with some extra warm socks during winter.
  • Gloves: We always lose gloves, so I prefer to purchase packs similar to these. I can easily throw an extra pair in my coat if a pair gets dirty or a little one loses a pair.
  • Hats: Despite how cold it is, Beckham constantly rips his hat off. (It drives me insane!) Hats with a chin strap are slightly more baby proof, but it definitely doesn’t work every time.

Ride along

Best tip to make homesteading with kids easier – keep them close, contained, and entertained! If your little one is too old to be worn, then consider different ride along options. I always see mamas with their little ones in strollers on the farm, but for some reason I haven’t tried that option yet. Below are some of our favorite ride along toys for the farm.

  • Wagon
  • John Deere Tractor
Frenchie Farm

Give them chores

Last but not least, give your little one (developmentally appropriate) chores! While Beckham is too young for chores, Finley loves them and takes it very seriously. Feeding the goats, spreading straw, and chasing chickens are just a few of her favorites.

Seeing as this was a homesteading gift guide, it obviously included items to purchase. With that being said, you don’t always need to buy anything! To make homesteading with kids easier, sometimes the simplest ways are the best, aren’t they? Fancy toys are fun, but little ones love the simplicity of farm chores too 😉

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Colleen 🐐🐓🐶
Well, despite my denial, I suppose that it’s off Well, despite my denial, I suppose that it’s officially fall 🍁 I tend to hold onto summer time as long as possible, especially because the bitter cold winter months are brutal in Chicago. With that being said, I’m learning to appreciate all of the seasonal changes that naturally occur on the farm, even if they aren’t my favorite 😉 Early morning chores are filled with brisk air while fog covers the rising sun. It’s beautiful in its own unique way, and maybe one day I’ll love the changing seasons as much as I love the summer heat. Or maybe I’ll move somewhere warmer in another life, who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️
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Do you prefer the heat or cold fall days?
After such an emotional weekend, I woke up feel ex After such an emotional weekend, I woke up feel extra drained today. I wanted to press snooze when my alarm went off, but I decided to get up early for a quick workout and chores instead. And gosh, isn’t it crazy how those simple decisions turn your day around right from the start? Plus, seeing these boys run toward me every morning is simply the best.
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Today was hard. . . Today was processing day for o Today was hard.
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Today was processing day for our first round of meat chickens, and I’ve spent much of the last 24 hours crying. I said my good byes this morning, and I feel grateful for Ben taking care of the logistics. Does it get easier? Is it supposed to? I don’t know.
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I usually share the fun, light hearted parts of homesteading. This part just feels hard. And sad. And I feel a lot of guilt. I feel comforted by the life we gave to our birds, but also guilty that we’re the ones who took it away. 
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Homesteading is just really hard.
Tomorrow is the day that I’ve been dreading for Tomorrow is the day that I’ve been dreading for quite some time - processing day for our first ever round of meat chickens. As a previous vegan, I’m struggling. I’d be lying if I said that I’m not tearing up typing this, or that I didn’t tear up while walking by their pasture during chores tonight. This part is really hard.
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But here’s the thing - I don’t think “hard” is a bad thing. Actually, it’s a good thing. Because if we don’t have a level of guilt and appreciation for animals, then there’s something seriously wrong ... and that’s exactly what’s wrong with our current food supply system. 
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So I’ll continue to feel guilty, because I SHOULD. And I’ll continue to feel grateful, because I SHOULD. And I’ll continue to feel really sad knowing that I’m responsible for loss, because I SHOULD.
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And the second I lose sight of that guilt and gratitude? Well, that won’t happen. Trust me ❤️
Nope, that’s not my incredible white farmhouse, Nope, that’s not my incredible white farmhouse,  but maybe one day ours will looks similar! 🙌🏼 Have you met my friend Maddy over at @addisonfarmssc? We’ve been friends on these little squares for quite some time, and holy moly, she’s definitely #onetofollow ! 
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From her perfectly beautiful farmhouse to her darling farm with a major swoon worthy garden and beautiful horses, I’m just in love. Plus she’s the sweetest, so you should head over to her account and give her a follow! ❤️ Happy Friday, friends!
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Tomorrow marks our first (official) day of homesch Tomorrow marks our first (official) day of homeschool preschool, but when you live on a farm, aren’t you always “schooling” one way or the other anyway?
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Well before COVID, I started thinking about homeschooling our kids. I didn’t understand the reason for being drawn toward homeschooling, but now it all makes sense and feels like the perfect decision for our family. I’m loving how sweet and cozy this homeschool room feels, and I hope our little ones grow to love learning here too ❤️ I know some of you are homeschooling pros, so I would love to hear any tips!
When the new @beekman1802 Bloom Cream is incredibl When the new @beekman1802 Bloom Cream is incredibly moisturizing, formulated with goat milk, AND packed with probiotics, the goats can’t help but check it out! #ad 🐐 I’ve been using the newest Bloom Cream moisturizer for the past few weeks and I’ve been LOVING it! It’s an incredible mix of super hydrating, gentle, and light weight all mixed into one. Perfect way to re-hydrate after long days on the farm.
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@beekman1802 also recently launched at @ultabeauty, so it couldn’t be any more convenient to try out a few new clinically kind goat milk skincare products! Shop in store or online - you’ll thank me later 😉 What are some of your favorite skincare products? @beekman1802 @ultabeauty #beekmanblooms
Eggs, eggs, eggs! Between beautiful duck eggs and Eggs, eggs, eggs! Between beautiful duck eggs and rainbow chicken eggs - give me all the eggs 🙌🏼 We’re drowning in eggs, which means we have more than enough to share with our farm class friends during their final week of class. 
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So much to be grateful for, and so many scrambled eggs, frittatas, egg bakes, paleo pancakes, etc! What are some of your favorite ways to use up extra eggs?
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