Swiss Farm Visits For Children
Swiss farm visits for children: hands-on animal care, milking & cheese demos. Family-friendly tours—book ahead, follow safety rules.
Swiss Farm Visits for Children
We, at the Young Explorers Club, run Swiss farm visits for children. These visits deliver hands-on learning about animal care, seasonal farm work and local food production. Kids get to pet animals, watch milking demos and try simple cheese making geared to families and school groups. Hosts usually offer guided tours or farm-stay options. They’ll ask for advance booking and expect visitors to follow safety and hygiene rules. Plan for activities that match children’s ages and abilities.
Typical Activities
Common farm activities designed for children include:
- Petting areas and supervised animal contact
- Milking demonstrations and feeding times
- Simple, family-friendly cheese-making or butter-tasting sessions
- Seasonal events such as spring lambing, summer alpine pasture visits and harvest festivals
- Guided tours, farm-stays and short educational workshops
- Age-appropriate chores, pony rides and playground facilities where offered
Booking & Logistics
To make the visit smooth and safe, follow these practical steps:
- Check hours and seasonality — offerings vary by region and time of year.
- Book ahead — many hosts require advance reservations for groups and school visits.
- Confirm transport and arrival times with the host.
- Pack weather-ready clothing — boots, rain gear, sun protection and a change of clothes.
- Tell hosts about allergies or special needs in advance.
Safety & Hygiene
Farms will expect visitors to follow simple rules to protect people and animals:
- Supervise children closely at all times around animals and equipment.
- Wash hands after animal contact and before eating.
- Follow biosecurity steps requested by the farm (boot cleaning, staying in designated areas).
- Wear closed-toe shoes and appropriate clothing for muddy or uneven terrain.
- Choose age-appropriate activities — fenced petting areas and playgrounds for little ones; supervised chores and pony rides for older children.
Key Takeaways
- Hands-on lessons: Visits teach children about animals and farming and connect them to the source of their food.
- Seasonal variety: Offerings change by region and season — spring lambing, summer alpine pastures, harvest events and cheese-making demos.
- Plan logistics: Check hours, book ahead, confirm transport and pack weather-ready clothing like boots and rain gear.
- Follow safety and hygiene: Supervise kids closely, wash hands after animal contact, and obey requested biosecurity steps.
- Match activities to age: Choose farms with fenced petting areas and playgrounds for little ones, and supervised chores or pony rides for older children.
https://youtu.be/2po0j_UFi_I
Sources
Swiss Federal Statistical Office — Agriculture and forestry
Agroscope — Agricultural economics
Schweizer Bauernverband — Bauernhof & Schule
Zürich Tourismus — Family activities
Bern Welcome — Family activities in Bern
Region du Léman — Family experiences
Eurostat — Agricultural farm structure statistics
Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU) — Agriculture
WHO Regional Office for Europe — Urban green spaces and health: a review of evidence





