Kids having fun while learning how to care for and be kind to furry friends is what Dianne Amott's animal farm at Whakamarama is all about.

Dianne, a self-professed animal lover her whole life, has been running her Farm Animals and Pets class at her lifestyle block, named The One and a Half Acre Wood, in Whakamarama for a year.

'I'm quite passionate about giving people the right knowledge about how to care for animals properly,” says Dianne.

In her class for five to 14-year-olds, children learn correct pet care and feeding, safety around animals, how to read animal's body language and respectful handling.

Precious pets

The classes help parents know which pets would make a good addition to the family. 'Kids are attracted to different animals,” says Dianne.

'Sometimes parents have an idea that a rabbit might be a good idea but when it comes down to it, the kid actually just wants a cat.”

Children at Dianne Amott's class learn correct and respectful handling of animals. Photo: Supplied.

Observing what animals kids are interested in helps families choose a pet that won't last five minutes, says Dianne.

Kids in the class also learn about different animal's body language and how to be respectful of animals. Dianne gives the example of guinea pigs, which only like to be touched on the top half of their body.

'If you go any further than that they start to squeak, look annoyed or they might turn around and nip you.”

Understanding this, children learn when an animal is saying ‘No' and to respect that.

The wonderful outdoors

Mucking in at the farm does a world off good for kids too.

Dianne says one of the boys attending her classes' hated being outside and getting dirty, but has had a massive change in behaviour after two terms worth of classes.

Meeting a wide range of animals at the lifestyle block, children are taught how to read animals' body language. Photo: Supplied.

'It's been really good for him learning that it's actually okay to get wet, it's okay to get dirty and it's just really good for kids to have that experience.”

He's now the first one to get his hands in mixing up the horse feed, says Dianne.

She could be considering a name change for the classes too, after a suggestion from one her class's 10-year-olds saying: 'We should call it a Farm Animals and Pets Club… it's not really a class because it's not boring, it's fun so it should be a club”.

Held Fridays, classes run from 1pm-2.30pm or 3.30pm-5pm at The One and a Half Acre Wood, Whakamarama.

School pickups from Omokoroa and Whakamarama schools are by arrangement.