TRUGANINA mobile animal farm provides city kids with a real eye-opener on what four-legged, furry and feathered creatures are really like.
Kim Brown, of Werribee, has been running the farm for 12 years and still gets a kick from the reactions of children when they see her “flock” of lambs, sheep, goats, hens, ducks, geese, rabbits, guinea pigs and a turkey.
“Many kids don’t know which animal is which,” she said.
“I’ve had some kids pat a goat and say: ‘Look at the dog.’
“Others don’t know the difference between a duck and a goose.
“Today, many children are inside playing computer games all the time.
“I find they’re actually rapt to be outside playing for a change – and they love patting the animals.”
The farm’s most recent visit was to the Northern School for Autism in Preston, where the children were in awe over animals they had not seen before.
For one class of seven-year-old boys, it was an extension on the theme of animals they had been working on for the past school term.
“It was a positive learning experience and a lot of fun for the children,” teacher Naserah Khan said.
“Patting and hugging the animals also has a good therapeutic value.”
The visit was special for Ms Brown for she has a young autistic cousin and a friend of her son has a form of autism called Aspergers syndrome.
“I know what autistic children are like and what they need,” she said.
“Being with the animals and letting them have fun is important.
“With children in general, I teach them to be nice to the animals and gently pat them.
“I find the rabbits are the most popular because they’re cute and cuddly, and the kids can hold them.
“I also encourage questions about what the animals eat and how they live in their natural environment.”
The Truganina Mobile Animal Farm visits schools, nursing homes, shopping centres and fetes throughout the year.
