Many kids are happy to have the attention of an adult. I've had my own, my grandkids, and often other people's kids tag along even a I did chores.

Washing water buckets can include a small water fight. Hand walking and pony rides can become exploring nature (even if just collecting bugs to be let go later, or looking at the differences between leaves of weeds).

If you're up to it, painting your horse, taking a photo, and then washing him, is fun for kids. There are sites that explain what different symbols mean to different cultures. Or have them make up their own brand and put it on.

My grandkids bring toys, a microscope, plastic bottles, magnifying glasses, and baggies. I let any kids use a cheap dissection microscope, and older ones get to use the one I use for fecals, with supervision because my slides and covers are glass.

I'm glad you're letting these kids be around barn life.

 

We are definitely going to do some more nature walks and I love the idea of painting the horses we may do pedicures and paint the horses hooves too. Toys are definitely allowed in my barn too. last time they came the dolly went for a pony ride too lol

 

I work at a horse camp and we let the kids lead the horses and trot them over poles once and its their favorite thing to do now. they free lunged some naughty ponies which was a fun one for them. we also made horse safe paint by disolving chalk in water and they painted a pony.

 

I wondered what to use to paint them I was thinking dollar store tempura paint but chalk seems easier to clean

 

Braiding a mane and putting pretty ribbons in is always a hit with feminine kids.

Also, lead them through a course of ground poles and cones - it’s safe but it looks like a difficult thing and makes them feel accomplished. Maybe even let them lead the horse on their own, with you next to them - most horses will follow you anyway so it’s not difficult.

If you have an oven at the yard (not exactly common, I know) make some horse treats - kids absolutely love doing that.

And if you don’t mind finding glitter for years down the line - horse safe glitter.

 

If you have an oven at the yard (not exactly common, I know) make some horse treats - kids absolutely love doing that.

My barn is at my home and since I already have been making horse treats we will be doing this especially since it is supposed to rain next time they come.

 

Cleaning water buckets is always a favourite for youngsters.
You could show a youngster (not with a horse) to "trot and canter". I'm sure you have seen people imitating a horse cantering then let them help you set up a little obstacle course. They like helping with something like this.
It could be trotting poles, around barrels, put something on a barrel and carry it to another, weave through standards or cones.
Then have the children do the obstacle course on foot no horse pretending to trot or canter at certain places then the run home.
Then do it on the horse you leading, this would be all at the walk until they are more comfortable with anything faster.
If you have a nice area with woods trails etc you could take them for a walk
Even sweeping the barn can be fun for children or helping with the bedding in the stalls.
If you have a riding therapy stable in your area you could ask them for some ideas.
Thank you for spending time with the children.

 

Even sweeping the barn can be fun for children or helping with the bedding in the stalls.

These kids are the best at sweeping I swear they get every spec of dust out of the barn when they do and then love sprinkling shavings like confetti one hand at a time (this takes forever but is pretty cute to watch)

 

A couple of people have mentioned obstacles courses but I don’t have any poles or barrels so I think we may try it after I find some things to use.

 

Buckets and flower pots are a good substitution for cones. Just make sure that the horse doesn’t get spooked by them beforehand. Or thinks there is food in them (ask me how I know :/ )

 

As a kid I grew up in a hunter/jumper barn. Since just walking new courses was boring to us kids, we 'cantered' them pretending we were horses. We counted strides, tried to see where we'd come off the ground (you can skip this part since they aren't competing but it was fun and developed our eye), switched 'leads' in the air over the jumps, and just in general pretended we were our horses riding the courses. We did the same thing over trail courses, pretended we were the horses opening the gate, backing the L, troting the trot poles, did the whole trail course. Got rid of LOTS of little kid energy that way. We also bathed, groomed, braided, sanded and polished hooves - you could use water based paint in fun colors and they make glitter hoof dressings, take them on rides - you hand walking them, them leading horses on walks, 'help' you putting new shavings in stalls - kids LOVE this, you pile up the new shavings and they get to jump in and kick the new shavings around to spread them. All kinds of stuff for kids to do out at the barn. Can't think of a better place for kids to blow off stress and energy, not to mention the one on one therapy with the best psychiatrists in the world, the horse.

Good for you for seeing the need and spending some positive time with these kids.

 

Also just to note these kids are terrified of doing anything above a walk at snail speed so for them walking normally is too fast which is perfectly fine with me and my horse who is a lazy bones

 

I thought I give y’all an update…
The last couple times they have been here I’ve done a few activities.We always make the horses grain (they feel like they’re making potions) and they always sweep for me( I almost never sweep the barn so they love feeling helpful and cleaning up). One girl braided my mini pony’s hair into about 50 teeny tiny braids and they both found calm in it (pony fell asleep while she was braiding lol) I also bought cheap hoof oil for them to paint on and ordered biodegradable glitter to add to it to make it sparkle( glitter has not came yet☹) Finally I set up a low jump and taught them how to take my mini over the jumps (in hand) and that was a major hit. They loved running him around, learning the cues and successfully going over the jump. I will slowly add more to it like turns and more jumps.(I have to work with pony more and make sure kids are solid In there cues) once we get water back in the barn(a pipe burst so no water out there) and if it stays warm we will paint the ponies ( I want to be able to rinse them off afterwards) Not totally related but one of the kids is going to start coming out weekly to work on her riding. She is only being lead around currently so I want to help her be able to ride on a lunge line and eventually in a ring with me supervising.(probably in 6 months minimum) Thank you all for your wonderful ideas they have really made theses kids time special!