Within a family, there are always chores to get done and tasks to accomplish. For some parents, it can be hard to include your children in these things as it takes time and energy to teach them how to master a skill in the way you’d like. But while getting your kids to do chores can sometimes be a headache, the skills they learn through them can be invaluable later on in life.
During the school year, it makes sense that most of your kids’ chores would take place within the home. But once summer rolls around and the weather gets nice, outdoor chores are usually in abundance.
So to help your little ones learn some of these skills as well, here are three tips for having your kids help you with outdoor chores this summer.
Get Them Each A Spade and Bucket
From a very young age, your kids can get outside with you and begin contributing to outdoor chores. The trick here is to make sure they have the right supplies to help with.
To start them off small, Patrick A. Coleman, a contributor to Fatherly.com, recommends that you first get your little kids a spade and a bucket. With these tools, they can do all types of chores, like collecting debris from the yard, moving rocks or dirt to other areas, pulling up weeds and more.
Leave The Machines To The Teens
While you might like the idea of sharing the load of the yard work with your kids, it’s important that you don’t give them tasks that are above their abilities. Because of this, Amy Morin, a contributor to Very Well Family, advises that you leave chores that require the use of machines to your teens or yourself.
As your kids get older, they can start helping with the lawn mower, weed whacker, or tractors when applicable. But when they’re small, make sure you keep these potentially dangerous tools out of their reach.
Don’t Forget To Have Fun
Although no one really enjoys having a long list of chores to accomplish, there’s something about doing outdoor chores that can seem a lot more fun to your little ones.
With a free pass to get a little dirty and the ability to spend some time in the sunshine and fresh air, Brent Glasgow, a contributor to Angie’s List, suggests that you don’t forget to have a little fun when doing outdoor chores with your family. If you are able to make these jobs fun for the whole family, this could become a traditional that everyone cherishes for years to come.
If you’re wanting to get some chores done outside this summer, consider using the tips mentioned above to help accomplish these tasks with the whole family involved.
