Chances are if you grew up with tractors you feel a strong connection to them. You’ll pause and admire these grand machines while at a farm fest, and you’ll make sure you have a front row spot in a parade on main street to get a good look at the tractors. When you have a love for tractors, it’s natural to wonder how to pass that feeling on to the next generation. While you can’t guarantee that kids will follow in your footsteps in loving tractors, there are some things you can do to encourage the love of tractors in today’s youth.
Here are a few tips for teaching kids about tractors:
#1 Take kids to tractor shows
There’s nothing better than letting kids see tractors up close and in person. The grandeur of these magnificent machines comes through when you’re standing right next to them. If allowed, encourage kids to sit behind the steering wheel. Better yet, if tractor rides are offered, make sure the kids get to take one.
#2 Attend small town festivals and parades
Festivals and parades in rural areas often have tractors on display. Owners of restored classic tractors enjoy showing them off at these events. You might even get a chance to meet and talk with the owner. Let kids ask questions to help develop their interest.
#3 Give toy tractors to small children
If you have small children in your family, you might consider buying toy tractors for them. There’s nothing like the imagination of children to help stir interest. Their playful imaginations with the toy tractor may grow into a stronger interest later in life.
#4 Read children’s books about tractors
This is another suggestion for younger children. Reading colorful picture books about tractors helps kids develop an interest in them. Children’s picture books create lasting memories that carry on for a lifetime.
#5 Let kids drive tractors
If you have teenagers in your family, and live on a working farm, you probably already have your kids on a tractor doing chores. Just that may instill a love for tractors more than anything else. If your tractor is more of a restored collectible, encourage teens to drive it when they are responsible enough to do so. The act of sitting behind the steering wheel and pressing down on the gas pedal will create a stronger bond.
#6 Work on repair and maintenance of your tractor
Encouraging kids to get their hands dirty by working on repairs helps build the connection. Show them how to replace a water pump, install a new starter, swap out an alternator, install a new seat or do any other repair. Let kids feel the accomplishment of fixing something.
#7 Restore a tractor together
This suggestion is only for older kids who have shown some interest in tractors. For the kid who shows budding interest, you might consider buying an old tractor needing restoration. Working together with a young person on a tractor fuel system, axle and steering, electrical system, cooling system, hydraulics, clutches and other mechanical and structure areas is both rewarding and a great learning experience. In fact, these are useful life skills that will benefit the young person throughout life for any kind of vehicle they own. The goal could be to give the tractor to the young person once the restoration is complete.
Sharing the love of tractors with kids
When it comes to teaching kids to love tractors, keep two things in mind. First, the love of tractors won’t necessarily happen just by magic. You might have to do some encouragement. Secondly, some people just won’t share the passion. If it isn’t meant to be, you can’t force it and must accept that not everyone finds the same joys in life. Different interests make us all unique, and that’s a good thing.
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