I am always looking for ways for our kids to help out, like these Summer Projects the Kids Can Help With… it just makes them more responsible to be contributing to family chores & jobs.
Now that the weather is getting warmer, we're spending more and more time outside. Although I have a long list of things I want to get to this summer, it's more important to make sure that those things don't overshadow the time I spend engaged with my family. So, instead of pushing things to the side, I'm actually going to get the kids involved with summer projects.
They can't always safely help with everything, but there are some great summer projects the kids can help with that will make for great summer memories. Here are a few ideas to get you started…
- Gardening
We encourage the kids to get in there and dig in the garden with us. Whether it's planting beans or watering the tomatoes, the kids can have a vested interest in what's growing in our small backyard plot. I've found that there's a lot to teach them and a lot of great conversations that happen while we're digging in the soil together.
If your garden area is large enough, you can actually give each child their own small area. It's an opportunity for them to grow the plants they want to grow and teach them about responsibility. It's also a great way to get a lot of variety and have an abundant harvest!
- Outdoor Painting
There's a lot of outdoor painting that has to happen this summer. From planter boxes to touching up the paint on the fence, the paintbrushes will be making quite a number of appearances this year. The kids have already volunteered to help me with the first coat of fence paint and the planter boxes are probably going to be painted in some amazing (and kid-friendly!) colors.
Since I want the finished fence to look amazing, I'll probably be doing the final coat myself, but the kids can definitely go to town on the first coat.
- Building Things
We want to add a birdhouse and a sandbox to the backyard this summer, so the kids will be learning how to build. Getting the kids involved in simple building projects is a great way to teach them basic construction skills. From hammering a nail into the roof of the birdhouse to leveling the boards for the sandbox, there's going to be something for everyone to do if they want to get involved.
- Outdoor Toy Organization
Every year we struggle with figuring out how to store all of the outdoor toys. They seem to overtake the yard by early-July. This year, we'll be enlisting the kids in an outdoor toy organization project that will include creating spaces for everything. We've learned (the hard way) that designing storage that makes it easy for them to put things away when they're done with them is paramount.
For example, last year we thought we'd hang the bikes in the shed to create more floor space. It was a great idea, but the kids couldn't lift their bikes high enough, so the hooks never got used. It makes a lot of sense to keep them invested in the process, because they need to make sure that the storage is at their height and easy for them to navigate. Quite frankly, I think I'm looking forward to doing this summer project with them the most!
This year, we bought this declutter course, took it as a family and I gave out jobs every day to our kids. They took their own before & after photos (yep… not kidding!) of their rooms and they had a blast seeing their progress. I'd do it again.
Keeping the kids involved in projects that benefit the whole family is a great way to get things done while still putting family first. While there are definitely some things that I'll be doing on my own this summer, I can't wait to get the kids involved. It's going to be fun to spend time with them while teaching them to respect and take care of our home too.
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