In one village along one of the mezcal touring routes, known for carving and painting those whimsical figures known as alebrijes, children may have an opportunity to select their choice of carved animal figure, and try their hand at actually participating in painting with an instructor from the village who is an expert at painting.
     This talented potter was extremely happy to teach these two young girls how to work with clay to handmake animal figures.
In another villages known for production of both utilitarian and decorative figures out of terra cotta clay, hand-crafted without the use of a wheel (since Pre-Hispanic times), children can actually get their hands dirty forming their choice of red clay figures under the tutelage of an indigenous woman whose ancestors have been engaged in this type of work for literally thousands of years. 
In yet another village your children can learn weaving skills; from carding wool through to dying using natural substances such as plants, seeds, mosses and insects such as the cochineal, through to finally working on a small loom.

​And in the same village known for weaving rugs and tapestries, they can learn all the stages of making chocolate, through to sampling the fruits of their labor, being hot chocolate they have participated in making. 
In and around the mezcal villages, there are three main areas in which children of all ages can be kept entertained and engaged, which at the same time learning about animals, the natural environment, and an indigenous culture through interacting with Zapotec children close to their own age(s).
Parents are usually pretty good at keeping their children occupied, and of course we will always take our lead from the caregivers. However we are particularly adept  at addressing the needs and wants of children of all ages in order to keep them appropriately occupied, including asking them questions, requesting feedback, etc. Alvin in particular has a daughter who has been visiting Oaxaca since she was four years old, and he now has a four year old granddaughter who has been to villages in Oaxaca twice, playing with kids her age and a bit older. Children require stimulation, and both Alvin and Randall remain conscious of this fact throughout the day. The kids need attention paid to them just as do their parents, perhaps even more so. 
Depending on the time of year, there is a broad diversity of plant life in the villages. It is found along both dirt and paved roads, at the palenques, and at the homesteads of the palenqueros and their families: sunflowers, bugambilias, jacarandas, marigolds, etc. We usually visit at least one extremely rural home. Children of our clients inevitably become inculcated through osmosis with aspects of cultural relativism which will stay with them for a lifetime. 
But usually more interesting for children  are the animals we encounter, at virtually all of the locations noted above. They range from different varieties of chickens, turkeys and geese, to the usual dogs and cats, to donkeys and mules, horses, goats and sheep, swine and cattle. Perhaps parts of the day might be considered similar to attending a local zoo. 
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       While her parents were sampling ancestral mezcal, one of their daughters was absolutely thrilled to hold a little duckling!
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Depending on the ages of the children and educational background, ability to communicate in English and/or Spanish will likely vary. However, children have a way of breaking down barriers, through play and other means. We see it happening frequently. Alvin's daughter, from a very young age, and now his granddaughter, would play with the children and grandchildren  of Oaxacans in the villages. 

In the case of Alvin's daughter, she ended up becoming fully bilingual with a Oaxacan accent, though living all the while in Canada, because of her continual exposure to Oaxacan children both urban and rural. Because of frequent visits to Oaxaca, she decided to pursue a degree in Hispanic Studies, with a certificate in translation. In fact she now has a full-time permanent bilingual position, in Canada whereupon she speaks Spanish on a daily basis, the foundation for which being attributed to visiting Oaxaca beginning at a very tender age. For all the mistakes one makes raising children, they may be outweighed by having them visit rural Mexico. 
                                          Child with small wheel barrow helping to empty oven with freshly baked agave. 
Of course children should not be drinking alcohol in the course of a mezcal tour. However, depending on their ages and personalities, their parents might be amenable to allowing them to wet their lips. It's up to the parents and we always totally respect their decisions. Alvin recalls having small sips when his parents were having their weekend evening cocktails and glasses of wine, and his grandfather permitting little tastes of his Canadian rye whisky on Friday evenings. Alcohol was never abused by members of the family. There is perhaps some truth to the adage, if you're told NO as a child, the likelihood of doing the opposite increases.