It’s no easy task getting the entire family on board to help care for the lawn. Children today have many distractions between video games, toys, sports, friends, and school work. You don’t have to care for the lawn all by yourself. Children of many different ages can assist to not only give you a hand but also help prepare them for adulthood, when they may need to care for their own lawns. We want to share some tips to help make lawncare a family affair and help young ones get started on the right foot:
Start Them Young
Younger children love being outdoors and are always eager to please and lend a helping hand. Having a young child assist with lawn care establishes a routine and the expectation that this will continue for years to come. While young children can not help with every aspect, there are many age appropriate tasks that can be given to them. It is important to remember not to rush your child to complete the task faster, but let them work at their own speed so they feel accomplished and will be eager to help again.
Keep Responsibilities Simple
Younger children don’t necessarily understand the reasoning behind working on the lawn and doing yard work. They do best with age-appropriate tasks that they can follow through to completion. For example, a 4-year-old will not be able to rake the whole yard, but they can assist in the raking and help pick the leaves up when they are done. A younger child would also be able to help dig a small hole for a vegetable garden or to plant a tree.
Make It Fun
With the right approach, chores can become a game for young children. Fun aspects such as setting a timer, sorting leaves and other outdoor objects by color and shape add a fun element to yard work. Stickers, allowance money, or special treats can also be a fun reward to use with children of all ages.
At Challenger Irrigation, we are happy to serve Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, and Citrus counties for over 25 years. While we may not be able to get your children to help with the outdoor chores, we can assist with questions about how an irrigation system can benefit your property, give us a call! We look forward to hearing from you.
