Ready to raise kids who work hard?
Doing yard work gets kids outdoors, keeping them busy doing chores they’ll learn for life. Even better…
Yard work keeps kids off electronics and lets them earn the pride that comes with a job well done.
The problem?
Parents aren’t having their kids do chores like previous generations did. A survey reported by the Wall Street Journal found that while 82% of parents did chores growing up, only 28% made their children do chores.
That’s a big change.
But you can teach your kids chores with these age-appropriate tasks.
Here’s What You’ll Learn
- Why Yard Work Is Better Than Indoor Chores
- Age Appropriate Tasks
- Getting Started The Right Way
- Keeping Your Kids Doing Chores Long-Term
Why Yard Work Is Better Than Indoor Chores
Kids who help with yard work learn skills for life.
But here’s the secret…
Yard work is better than other chores.
When you do outside chores you get outside and build muscle. You learn to use tools. Kids can easily point to where they helped by showing them the nicely mowed lawn or weed-free garden bed.
It provides immediate value they can feel proud of.
An 85-year Harvard study tracked children who were given age-appropriate chores. It concluded that these children grew up with better work ethics and were happier in their adult life. Children given chores became higher earners and had more successful careers.
That’s incredible.
But did you know that…
Yard work teaches children how to use tools. Sure, they may start with a rake or wheelbarrow but as they get older many youth and adult go buy powerful outdoor power equipment. Families often start browsing agricultural equipment dealership locations like the Case IH and Kubota equipment lineup in Marion to see the full range of outdoor power equipment and work their way up to something bigger.
By starting kids off young with small yard chores you’re setting them up to learn how to handle the big tools when they’re older.
Age Appropriate Tasks
Sure, yard work is great for kids. But you can’t give them the same list of chores as your spouse or older kids.
Give a kid too much responsibility and they’ll come to hate yard work.
Give them too little and they’re not learning anything.
Let’s break down chores by age.
Toddlers (2-4 Years Old)
You bet your toddlers can help too. Here are some simple tasks:
- Putting sticks in a pile
- Watering garden plants
- Helping to rake leaves
- Carrying small garden gloves
It’s not about how much they can help at this age. It’s about getting them used to helping and spending time outside.
Young Kids (Ages 5-7)
Your kids will start to have fun helping with these chores:
- Pulling weeds
- Raking leaves into piles
- Spreading mulch
- Watering gardens
- Planting seeds
Buy them their own toolbox. Having kid-friendly tools will make them feel important and ready to help. Trust me, they work harder when they feel like they have “adult” jobs too.
Tweens (Ages 8-12)
Your kids should be able to do some heavy lifting:
- Mowing lawns (ride-on mowers are tempting but teach them to push first)
- Edging along sidewalks
- Trimming bushes
- Tending compost bins
- Gutter cleaning
- Washing patio furniture
With these chores make sure you teach your child how to safely use these tools. Have them watch you do it a few times. Let them work alongside of you to learn the correct way. Once they prove they can do it give them their independence to work.
Teens (Age 13 and Up)
Honestly, there’s not much your teenagers can’t do:
- Mowing with a riding lawn mower
- Trimming with a string trimmer
- Power washing
- Big landscaping projects
- Equipment maintenance
- Planning seasonal tasks
This age is all about letting them take responsibility for something. Assign them an area that is their duty to take care of. Let them figure out how they want to manage it.
How To Get Started…The Right Way
You know your kids need to do chores. Heck, you know they should have been doing them already.
But you may not want to start off on the wrong foot. Which leads to everyone dreading yard work.
Follow these tips:
Start Small
Your child is not going to rake the entire yard in perfect strips the first time you hand them a rake. Give them a 10 minute job. When they’re done, praise them for completing the task.
Create positive reinforcements when they do their chores.
Work Beside Them First
Demonstrate how to do the job first. Don’t just show them, work with them for the first few times. Let them see how its done up close.
Once they’ve learned the process… step back.
Let them do it their way. Your kid’s weeding isn’t going to look like yours.
But that’s okay. Accept the job got done, even if it’s not pretty.
Make A Schedule
Don’t ask your kids when they want to do yard work. Set a day and time that works and your kids WILL know.
Saturday morning before they have to go somewhere? Perfect.
Make yard work a routine and part of the schedule. When kids know they’ll be spending time outside on Saturday they won’t argue about it.
Use The Right Tools
You wouldn’t let your kid swing a full sized shovel would you? Supply them with smaller tools made for kids. Quality equipment beats plastic junk.
There’s kid-sized tools for a reason. They are easier for little hands to manage.
Making Sure They Stick With Chores
This is where parents get stuck.
They start off strong but after a few weeks of kids doing chores they give up. They don’t ask because “it’s easier not too”.
Uh…nope.
Doing chores has to be a consistent thing.
Increase their chores over time. Make sure they know you appreciate the help. And if they forget to water the garden and it dies…let nature take it’s course.
Of course, rewarding your child for doing chores can be done.
Some parents pay their children per chore. Others connect chores to allowance.
Both can work.
As long as your kids connect the work they did to something they want. Whether that’s a clean yard, allowance, or an hour of video games.
Just try not to turn everything into a money business. Part of being in a family is just pitching in.
Wrapping It All Up
There you have it, parents.
You can teach your kids responsibility by having them help with yard work.
It will help them learn:
- Work ethic that they will use in school and beyond
- Strength from an active outdoor lifestyle
- Problem-solving skills through physical labor
- Pride that they helped with something important
Don’t just take my word for it. Research proves that kids who do chores grow up to be more successful adults.
They also tend to be happier with their life.
Start small and be consistent. Work with them and before you know it you’ll have kids who won’t just tell you how to take care of your yard…they’ll do it!