If you're looking for ways to get your kids involved in the garden, look no further. Gardening is a popular chore for kids to help with. In fact, our Youth Economy Report shows that 32% of US kids help out in the garden, spending an average of 6 and a half hours working outside per month.
Want to get your kids doing more chores outside? In this blog post, we will provide a garden chores list full of age-appropriate tasks for your children throughout the year. So grab your gardening gloves and let's get started!
Related: Age-appropriate chores for kids
Benefits of outside chores for kids
There are many benefits to getting kids involved in chores, and outside chores are no exception. In fact, garden chores can teach children responsibility, help them develop a love for nature, and give them a sense of accomplishment.
It also gets them outside in the fresh air and sunshine, which is great for their physical and mental health. Plus, gardening can be a great way to bond with your children and spend some quality time together. As far as chores go, gardening is definitely one of the more fun and rewarding options. Plus, with a bit of creativity, you can find some ways of making chores fun — and maybe instil in your child a lifelong love of the outdoors and nature.
Garden chores for 5-6 year old
Here is a list of garden chores that are appropriate for children aged five to six:
- Watering the plants — Kids can help water the plants by using a watering can or hose. This is a great way to teach them about how plants need water to grow. Just be sure to show them how much water each plant needs.
- Picking up sticks and leaves — Sticks and leaves can make the garden look messy. Help your child clean up and add garden waste to the compost heap.
- Planting seeds — Kids can help plant seeds in the garden. This is a great way to teach them some fundamentals of nature, like how plants grow.
- Mulching the garden — Mulching helps to keep the soil moist and prevent weeds from growing. Kids can have fun spreading mulch around the garden.
Related: Chores for 5 year-olds
Garden chores for 7-8 year olds
Here is a list of garden chores that are appropriate for children aged seven to eight:
- Weeding — Children will love to help pull weeds, but be sure to supervise them closely. Some weeds can be harmful, while some flowers can be mistaken for weeds. Think about supplying your child with gloves and a small shovel before pointing out which of the pesky plants are on the hit list.
- Cleaning up debris — Kids can help clean up stones and other larger debris from the garden. Make sure you show them where to put the debris, so it doesn't end up in the wrong bin.
- Picking fruits and vegetables — This is a fun task for kids of all ages. Let them help you pick ripe fruit and vegetables from the garden.
Related: Chores for 6 and 7-year olds
Garden chores for 9–10 year olds
Here are some tasks that nine to ten-year-old children can help with:
- Fertilizing — Children can help spread fertilizer around plants. Just be sure to show them how much fertilizer each plant needs. Along the way, you can tell them about some of the nutrients and elements (such as nitrogen) that a plant needs to grow.
- Planting — Children can help plant seeds, bulbs, and plants in the garden. All you need to do is show them how deep to plant each one first.
- Digging — Young kids can help dig holes for plants using a size-appropriate shovel. Just be sure to show them how deep to dig each hole, or else they may continue until you have the space for a small pond!
Related: Chores for 8-9 year olds, Chores for 10-12 year olds
Garden chores for 11-13 year olds
Here is a list of garden chores for 11 to 13-year-olds:
- Mowing – This is the big job in the garden. Allow your child to mow the lawn using a push mower. It’s advised to supervise them closely to make sure they understand how to operate the mower safely.
- Edging – Kids can help edge the lawn using a shovel or edging tool. Take some time to show them how to use the tool properly.
- Raking – Allow your child to rake leaves in Fall. Some rakes can be spikey and a little sharp, so make sure your child understands how to use the rake properly.
- Pruning — Kids can help prune plants using shears or clippers. This will involve sharp tools, so be sure to supervise them closely.
Related: Chores for teens
Garden chores for 14 and older
Here is a list of garden chores that are appropriate for teenagers 14 and older:
- Transplanting — Teenagers can help transplant seedlings or small plants using a trowel or spade. This is a delicate job, so it’s best to work together on the first few transplants.
- Installing irrigation — Teens can help install irrigation systems using hoses, tubing, and other materials. It might be worth checking your child's progress regularly or risk a flooded vegetable patch.
- Building raised beds — Your teen can help build raised beds using wood, bricks, or stone. This is a great activity to do together. Allow them to measure and cut some of the materials you use.
How to reward for garden chores
There are several ways you can reward your children for completing their chores. Maybe give them a special treat, like their favorite snack or a toy, or you can simply praise them for a job well done.
You can also choose to reward them financially, such as linking their allowance to their chores or paying them separately for each chore. This is a great way to teach children the value of hard work and responsibility and promote good money habits from an early age. Plus, it's bound to motivate them to complete their chores and do a good job.
With GoHenry, you can set up paid chores that allow you to pay your child for completing tasks around the garden. Set paid chores within your parent app and you or your child can mark them as complete when they're finished. When this is confirmed as complete by you, your child will get paid for the chore on their regular allowance day, with all their earnings being sent straight to their GoHenry prepaid kids debit card.
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