Beekeeping can teach just about anyone, regardless of age, many interesting things about the environment, patience, and responsibility. Sharing your beekeeping hobby with family, especially your kids, can be a great way for the whole family to learn together about the importance of caring for honeybees. Helping a young generation of beekeepers to understand them better can be truly amazing, but there are, of course, some important concerns to consider first.
When introducing kids to beekeeping, safety should always come first. If your child has any known allergies to bee stings, consult with their doctor before taking them out to the bee yard. Whether allergies are a concern or not, having an emergency plan in place is ALWAYS a good idea as an added layer of protection. And speaking of protection, make sure kids have the proper protective equipment that fits them well, including a complete bee suit with protective veil and beekeeping gloves, no matter how safe and comfortable (or fearless, like the helper below) they are around bees!
Make sure they are at an age where they can understand and respect the importance of slow, calm movements when near the beehive to avoid startling bees. Let them start out by observing the hive safely from a distance before letting them help with in-hive inspections. Helping them understand bee behavior can really help, too, especially when teaching them the reasons that bees buzz and to listen for changes in the sounds bees are making.
Even younger children who aren’t ready to come into direct contact with the beehive can help with beekeeping tasks and related activities. Encourage them to get involved with planting flowers to support your bees and other native pollinators, help them learn all about bees as early as possible, or let them help you with bottling honey. As they get older and their knowledge and understanding grow, they’ll be ready to start assisting you out in the apiary by helping hold frames or control the smoker, under close supervision, of course.
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