Every beekeeping operation needs a team. Ours is a team of two: me (Mum, chief worrier) and Bee Girl (age 11, chief bee-whisperer).
This post is about the real star of Bee Happy Honey.
Who Is Bee Girl?
Bee Girl is my daughter. She’s 11, she’s fearless around bees, and she’s the reason we started this whole adventure. When she asked “Mum, can we get bees?” she wasn’t just being curious — she’d already been researching honeybees at school and had decided this was happening.
She goes by Bee Girl on this blog because her identity is her own to share when she’s ready. For now, she’s our anonymous beekeeping hero.
Why Beekeeping Is Brilliant for Kids
I’ll be honest — when Bee Girl first asked about keeping bees, I had concerns. Stings. Safety. Whether an 11-year-old would stick with it once the novelty wore off.
Several months in, here’s what I’ve found:
It Teaches Responsibility
Bees are living creatures that depend on their beekeeper. Bee Girl understands that we can’t skip an inspection because we’re not in the mood. The bees need us, and that sense of responsibility has been wonderful to watch develop.
It Gets Kids Outside and Off Screens
This one speaks for itself. When we’re at the hive, there are no phones, no tablets, no screens. It’s just us, the bees, and the natural world. In an age where getting kids outdoors can feel like a battle, beekeeping solves the problem entirely.
It’s Genuinely Educational
Bee Girl has learned more biology from our one colony than most textbooks could teach. Colony dynamics, pollination, ecosystems, life cycles, the relationship between bees and flowers — it’s all there, happening in real time in front of her.
It Builds Confidence
The first time Bee Girl held a frame covered in bees, her hands were steady and her face (behind the veil) was pure concentration. She was calmer than I was. That kind of confidence — knowing you can handle something that most adults find intimidating — is priceless.
It’s Quality Time
This is the one I didn’t expect. Beekeeping has given us dedicated, focused time together. No distractions. No multitasking. Just the two of us working as a team. Those moments at the hive are some of my favourite memories already.
How Bee Girl Contributes to Bee Happy Honey
Bee Girl isn’t just along for the ride. She’s an active part of everything:
- Hive inspections: She helps with every inspection, spotting things I miss
- Bee Girl’s Corner: She writes (or dictates) her own blog posts about her experience
- Illustrations: Bee Girl is our resident artist — her bee drawings will feature throughout the blog and hopefully on merchandise
- Ideas: Most of our best content ideas come from her questions and observations
Tips for Beekeeping With Kids
If you’re thinking about getting your children involved in beekeeping:
- Start with education. Take a course together. The RANDBKA Introduction to Bees course was perfect for us — Bee Girl was welcomed and included.
- Get proper equipment in their size. A child-sized bee suit that fits properly is essential. Don’t try to make adult equipment work — it’s uncomfortable and unsafe.
- Let them lead. Kids notice things adults miss. Let them ask questions, make observations, and drive the experience.
- Keep sessions short at first. Bee Girl’s attention span for hive inspections has grown over time, but we started with shorter visits.
- Make it fun. This isn’t school. Keep the tone light, celebrate the small discoveries, and let the bees do the teaching.
- Respect their boundaries. If your child is nervous about the bees, that’s fine. Let them watch from a distance and come closer when they’re ready. Never force it.
What’s Next for Bee Girl
Bee Girl has big plans. She wants to:
- Find the queen during an inspection (we’re still working on this one)
- Taste our own honey for the first time
- Design the Bee Happy Honey logo
- Write more posts for Bee Girl’s Corner
Watch this space. Bee Girl is just getting started.