Doug the Digger encourages children to read and write

Kids are being encouraged to learn reading and writing by driving a digger.

Leighton Barnett, 3, was all smiles as he operated the mini digger – with help from a Tai Poutini digger school student.

Kids have to opportunity to jump on the mini digger and have a turn digging a hole or try lifting a stick at Fieldays.

Doug the Digger and Tai Poutini are joining forces to teach kids how to operate a digger and encourage them in their schooling too by having them complete the correct paper work required for health and safety.

“It’s good for the students because it helps teach them as they teach others,” said Alistair McIntyre from New Zealand Contractors Federation.

Alex Munroe, 12, has been operating excavators for two years and can probably operate the mini digger with his eyes closed.

He impressed the organisers so much they said he could have a go by himself if he wrote out the safety steps.

When asked what he wanted to do once he left school, “drive diggers,” he replied.

“Young ones who are really keen on machines tend to not be so keen with reading and writing,” said McIntyre.

This is the way the world works now, young people need to understand you have to be able to do the reading and writing side of it too, he said.

Doug the Digger is part of the Fun Company, which travels around New Zealand encouraging and inspiring school kids with interactive learning opportunities.