Maintaining your yard is a major project during all seasons of the year, and summer is no exception. Family yard work is the easiest way to make sure all tasks are completed.
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Tasking your children with yard work also gives them useful experiences that will benefit them later, when they own their own homes and must perform the upkeep on their own yards.
Here are five age-appropriate yard tasks to give your kids this summer.
#1. Mowing
Mowing is an ideal task for older kids. Younger children should not be asked to do this. The minimum recommended age to operate a push lawnmower is 12, and for a riding mower is 16.
If your son or daughter is old enough to handle the task, mowing is an excellent skill for them to learn. They may even enjoy it more than their other chores.
#2. Weeding
Weeding can be a grueling task, but not if it is performed on a regular basis. Start weeding early in the season, before a large number of weeds grow. As long as they are able to operate a shovel, weeding is a great task to give kids of nearly any age.
You can try and make a game out of it by seeing who can pull the most weeds in five minutes. All family members should know how to properly weed their yards.
#3. Watering plants
Many plants do not receive sufficient rain water during the arid summer months. Watering plants is a great task for kids of nearly any age. It teaches them the value of caring for their plants.
They can wear swimming clothes and play with the hose when they’re done. Perhaps encourage them to create their own garden as well.
#4. Cleaning the swimming pool
Leaves and branches often end up in pools, leaving the water dirty and unsightly. Administering chlorine or some other cleaning agent is an important part of keeping your pool in tip-top shape.
Like mowing, this is a great task to give to older kids, but is too dangerous and complex for younger ones. Children who use the pool should also be responsible for maintaining its cleanliness.
#5. Equipment maintenance
Children should start to learn how to repair and maintain basic yard equipment. Teach them to put tools away so they do not rust, safely fill the lawnmower with gas, and perform basic sprinkler repairs.
If you do need to see a professional, such as Hitch City landscape equipment repair in Toronto, bring your children with you to learn how to talk with professionals.
These tasks will not only help keep your yard in great shape, they will be a valuable educational tool for your kids as well. They may perform these tasks grudgingly at first, but ultimately, they will likely thank you for teaching them how to work and take care of a home.
Kara Masterson
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