Spring has finally arrived, and with it came a muddy, thawing, messy yard! April is the perfect month to introduce backyard chores to kids. Backyard chores often invite important conversations regarding environmental stewardship, Earth Day, seasons, animals, and plants. Additionally, backyard chores gift children with fresh air, exercise, and a sense of pride, ownership, and responsibility.
As with any new task, use discretion when assigning backyard chores to kids. Consider the age, ability, and attention span of your child. Most of the chores listed below are tasks my children (ages 4 and 6) still need assistance with or are in the process of learning. Cleaning up the backyard is fun to do as a family! It feels good to observe the progress and enjoy the end result of the entire family’s hard work! Listed below are some ideas to get your family started.
Backyard Chores for Kids
- Gardening
- Watering
- Spotting pet waste (older children can be taught how to safely clean up and discard it)
- Starting seeds
- Wiping swings and play-yard equipment
- Washing siding
- Painting
- Caring for backyard animals/pets
- Taking care of the sandbox (putting the lid on at night and before wet weather)
- Stacking wood
- Creating garden markers and garden art
- Picking up sticks and twigs
- Planting
- Putting toys away
- Seeding lawn
- Raking
- Cleaning up patio furniture
- Picking fresh flowers to enjoy indoors
- Weeding
- Filling bird feeders and bird baths
- Dividing plants
- Edging lawn around the driveway and sidewalk (under supervision and/or with assistance)
- Spreading mulch
- Dumping vegetable/fruit/plant scraps into the compost bin
- Winding the hose
- Picking up litter
- Harvesting fruit, vegetables, nuts, and berries
- Using hand tools to turn soil and prepare garden beds
- Deadheading flowers
- Sweeping sidewalks, porches, stairs, and driveways
Many hands make light work, and small hands love to help and feel big! Backyard chores nurture self-esteem and can teach children to be independent, strong, and sensitive to the needs of others. How do your children like to help with backyard chores?
Celebrate the Earth
This post is part of an Earth Day collaboration between other eco-minded bloggers who feel passionate about encouraging families to spend time together learning about and playing in nature. Click the links below to visit their blogs.
How Wee Learn ~ Rain or Shine Mama ~ My Nearest and Dearest
Natural Beach Living ~ Mommy Loves Trees
Kids in Nature
For more ideas about celebrating Earth Day with kids and incorporating nature-inspired activities and crafts into your routine, consider following my Kids in Nature Pinterest board. The creative bloggers listed above are also board contributors!
Follow Melissa of Fireflies and Mud Pies’s board Kids in Nature on Pinterest.
Mae says
So important to give kids responsibilities. They may grumble a bit, but they need to feel useful and capable. Great post.
Linda says
Great list, Melissa! My kids are still young enough that they love helping out around the yard. I’ll take advantage of that as long as it lasts!
Kate says
You are so right & this is such a great list! My little guy (2.5 years) loves helping out in the backyard–even more than playing with all the awesome toys he has back there. His favorite thing is pick up leaves, weeds & other yard waste that I create 🙂 and load it into our yard waste bin. It’s actually a huge help!