Agricultural activities provide the basic requirement of human beings- food. Mostly associated with the rural environment, these activities remain ‘out of sight’ of the urban populace. Therefore, there always exists a curiosity, particularly with the children, to get acquainted with such activities. Keeping this end in view, a niche of tourism known as Agrotourism is getting faster popularity among people. Instead of visiting the famous tourist place with 5-star living, you can now spend a day or two in an agricultural farm or ranch that are exclusively designed to provide a natural experience to the visitors.

Range of Agrotourism Activities

Technically, a hybrid of Agriculture and tourism, agrotourism encompasses a wide range of agro-oriented activities. This include:

• Picking fruits directly from the trees
• Milking the cows yourself
• Feeding the hens or goats
• Slopping the hogs
• Fishing in a Pond
• Riding a pony
• Buying the agricultural commodities
• Navigating and becoming a lost soul in a corn maze

Your children who are better acquainted with animals created by ‘Walt Disney’ will feel thrilled and excited to be so closer to the real creatures and even directly interact with them.

Now that the Summer Vacation is fast approaching, your kids may need some relaxation, fun, and enjoyment. And they will be pleased if they get the opportunity of playing outdoors; may be with their friends or some pets. There are some ‘Agrotourism’ farms developed in India to provide a real-life farm experience to your kids. They have facilities for a night stay with well-maintained living rooms, homemade meals, and parking for your vehicles. Spending a night on one such farm will be a fantastic way to keep your kids engaged with the natural world. They will feel greatly excited to pick tomatoes off the vine and eating them fresh or riding on a tractor.

This summer, you offer your kids, a novel experience of a ‘rustic stay’ in a farmhouse, which is a storehouse of serenity and simplicity.

The rural atmosphere is natural and your kids will find themselves in Mother Nature’s lap. They can enjoy the refreshing sunrise and after a whole day’s play and fun making, they can watch the calm sunset. There are swings fitted to the trees where they can flow with the wind, reciting their favorite songs or enjoying music from own MP3 or i-phone. After a simple and rustic night meal, they will enjoy sleeping on hard beds for calm sleep.

Kids and play are inseparable. With their natural curiosity, children will perceive the farm as a playground. Therefore, it is equally important that, while your kids are in playing modes, there are great arrangements for safety made for them. If any danger is apprehended at any place inside the agrotourism center, there must be clearly marked signboards so that you can take precaution for not allowing your children to go near that location. Similarly, you should also make your kids take care of themselves while they are engaged in any of the agro-based activities.

Summer Precautions

During the summer season, children absorb heat more readily and are less able to dissipate it. Children may also not know various symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Therefore, they may be asked to drink plenty of water while they are in the outing to an agritourism center. Heat Index is a combined mix of air temperature and relative humidity. If it exceeds 90 degrees, chances of heat exhaustion and heat stroke are more. Therefore, keeping an eye on this index, you should allow your children to play outdoors, in the agrotourism center. When the heat index is excessive, you should bring your kids to safer and cooler places that are specially constructed for the purpose.

You should also keep your children away from ‘attractive nuances’ that attracts the children but endangers their safety. These are unfenced swimming pools, open pits, abandoned refrigerators and farm equipment. While in the agrotourism firm this summer, with your children, keep the motto; “Safety first, Play Next!”