It’s no secret that the summer months are the most popular time for bee activity. As a result, your children might express interest in learning about these fascinating insects. They may also experience a bee sting, which can lead to them needing to know more about them. You might think you can’t start beekeeping if you have children, but that’s certainly not the case. Whether you have curious kids or you’re considering beekeeping as a family hobby, follow along to learn more about how to teach your kids about beehive safety.
Start Teaching Inside
Although beekeeping is a suitable hobby for all ages, you should avoid taking small children to the hive without direction. With that in mind, teaching your children about bees and beekeeping should always start inside. There’s nothing worse than trying to direct and explain at the hive itself, but having an in-depth discussion beforehand can make the experience much smoother.
Before you let your children come near the hives, be sure to talk to them about what bees do and how they make honey—this will give them basic knowledge about why beekeeping is important. Additionally, you should show them all of the necessary tools and explain what each of them is for.
Pro Tip
Be sure to remind your kids of a few things right before heading outside:
- Talk softly
- No running
- Don’t touch tools without permission
- Make slow, gentle movements
Get the Appropriate Gear
Even after teaching your kids more about bees and explaining the beekeeping role, you still must get the appropriate gear to keep them safe in the apiary. If you’re serious about including your children in your beekeeping journey, they must have the right gear to work around the hive. Whether you buy, rent, or borrow kid-sized beekeeping suits, they should fit your kids snugly without large gaps. Although beekeeping gear should be roomy, it shouldn’t be oversized.
Give Them Age-Appropriate Jobs
Beekeeping is suitable for children of many ages as long as they have the proper supervision and age-appropriate jobs. With that in mind, you should consider some of the simple tasks for your kids and save the risky stuff for yourself.
- Under 5: Children under the age of 5 aren’t usually suited for beekeeping. However, if you have an extremely calm and gentle child, you can use your judgment to determine whether or not they can handle some of the 5+ tasks.
- 5+: Kids 5 and up might be able to help you by using a bee brush to remove bees from the hive frames, look for mites, hold the smoker, or work on none-bee tasks, like painting hives or cleaning tools.
- 10+: Kids 10 and up can usually help you with any task you can do, especially if they’ve been helping for several years already. Be sure to teach them the proper way to do everything you’re doing, and supervise them in case they have questions or need help along the way.
Confirm Any Allergies
Unfortunately, some people have severe allergies to bees and bee products. While some experience extremely dangerous allergic reactions, others have sensitivities to stings that cause minor discomfort. That said, you should take your children to an allergist before starting your beekeeping journey to ensure they don’t have any major bee allergies. If they do, beekeeping might not be the best hobby. On the other hand, minor sensitivities don’t mean that you can’t move forward as planned. Knowing what to expect in advance is the best way to reduce any surprising incidents.
Model Good Beekeeping Behavior
It’s no secret that your children look to you as their role model for guidance. With that in mind, they’ll be looking to you to see how you treat bees and move around them. If you model good beekeeping behavior, your kids will learn from you first and foremost. Whether you’re suiting up or handling your bees, make sure to do everything the way you want your children to learn—after all, the future of beekeeping is in your hands.
Keep an Eye on Them
Even though your kids can help you with the hives, you should avoid leaving them alone for any amount of time. If they panic or feel overwhelmed with their task, you should be right there to take over when necessary. By keeping an eye on your kids at all times, you can make sure everything runs smoothly within the hives, and everyone is safe throughout the process.
Benefits of Beekeeping for Kids
You probably already know that beekeeping is great for the environment, but it’s also beneficial for your children. Consider some of the biggest benefits kids gain by exploring the world of beekeeping.
Learning More About Science
After your child understands the basics of bees and beekeeping, you can use each trip to the hive as a science lesson. Bees are a significant part of the ecosystem, and your child should know the importance of the role they play as pollinators for various crops. Additionally, you can teach them about the interworkings of a beehive and just how fascinating those hard-working insects are.
Connecting With Nature
It’s not always easy to get your children out into nature; instead, they would much rather spend their spare time in front of a TV or cell phone. That said, beekeeping is one of the best ways for them to connect with nature on a deeper level. After they learn more about the science behind beekeeping and the hive’s interworkings, they might find a new appreciation for the great outdoors. Use the time in the apiary to get the job done and spend as much time outside as possible.
Family Bonding Time
In addition to connecting with nature, beekeeping is a wonderful opportunity for extra family bonding time. By spending time on a shared interest, you’ll create a strong connection with your child that will last for years to come.
Teaches Responsibility
Beekeepers are responsible for the well-being and health of their colonies; therefore, this is an excellent way to teach your children about responsibility. Because the physical demands of beekeeping are minimal, it’s a good chance for young people to get involved and learn something new.
After learning how to teach your kids about beehive safety, you can look for nuc bee hives for sale to complete your apiary. Kids make great assistants when it comes to the hives—use the opportunity to teach them something new and continue the tradition of beekeeping in your family.
