When we first moved onto our property we quickly accumulated a large variety and number of animals. It did not take long for me to realize that I was going to need to get my kids on board with helping accomplish all the outdoor chores.
The honeymoon period
We moved in just before summer. So getting my kids outdoors was no problem at first. Everything was new and exciting. It was sunny. Life was good and everyone was happy to be outside helping out.
But, like anything, the daily work eventually began to feel monotonous. So once the school year and the rain began again, I had a plan.
the system to get kids working outdoors
Every morning, the kids and I have breakfast together at the table. This is when we do our morning Bible time, prayer, and go over our plans for the day. Then, while we are all still sitting at the table, I get out a handheld dry-erase board. On the board, I write a list of all the outside chores that need to be done that day. I include every little job I can think of because kids need to be told the details. Otherwise, the details will be overlooked. Then, everyone tells me what chores they want to volunteer for and I write their name next to their chores.
The key here is that I also write the chores that I know I will do. For example, every day I clean out the chicken coop. I am also the one to haul hay down to the pigs if needed. If any child starts to complain about the jobs they end up with, I offer to switch chores with them. This is a great tactic because no one actually wants to scrape the poop from the coop.
For a couple of weeks of this system, I was still reminding my kids to get outside and get their work done after breakfast. Then, a crazy thing happened. One day, I was helping my youngest get her boots on, and I realized that my other three children were outside. No reminders, no nagging, no pleading. It reinforced to me that as long as I am consistent with my system, it will become an established routine.
the most important thing
The most important thing you can do to get your kids working outdoors is to have a good attitude about it yourself. If you are cheerfully doing your chores, chances are good that they will work cheerfully as well.
Below are lists of some chores that my kids help out with by age group. I cannot speak to chores involving every livestock animal, because we haven’t experienced every animal (yet!). But hopefully these lists will give you some good ideas to get started:
outdoor chores for kids ages 4-6
- feeding the barn cats
- collecting the eggs from the coop
- filling large animal water bowls with a hose
- spreading feed for the chickens (I put the feed in a pail)
- carrying kindling up to the house
outdoor chores for kids ages 7-9
- splitting wood for kindling (Yep, our eight-year-old does this! Of course, his father gave him lots of guidance on how to do it safely. But he is fully capable and he feels good knowing he is contributing. This chore is obviously going to depend on the kid and how comfortable you feel with allowing them to use the tools needed. Our sons were both splitting wood with an ax. We then purchased a kindling splitter so that they can put the log onto the sharp part of the splitter and then use a mallet instead of an ax.)
- bringing wood and kindling inside from the wood pile
- stacking wood
- feeding animals
- collecting eggs
- filling waters with hose
- watering garden
- helping to plant seeds
- weeding the garden
- playing with the dog to give her exercise
- bringing the garbage and recycling containers back from the end of the driveway
outdoor chores for kids ages 10 and up
- splitting wood for kindling
- bringing wood and kindling in from the wood pile
- stacking wood
- feeding animals
- collecting eggs
- filling waters with hose or hauling buckets of water if needed
- cleaning chicken coop
- spreading hay in pig pen
- watering garden
- planting seeds
- weeding the garden
- playing with the dog to give her exercise
- picking up dog poo
- taking the garbage and recycling down our long dirt driveway for pick up
- bringing the garbage and recycling containers back from the end of the driveway
My system is simple, but I have found it to be very effective to get everyone outside working alongside each other with good attitudes. If I notice one child getting stuck consistently with a chore they dislike, I will encourage another child to take it for a day or two.
What chores are my lists missing? How do your kids help out around the homestead, or yard?
[…] a mother of four active kiddos, I am never surprised when clothing gets holes, tears, stains, etc. Pretty much every pair of pants […]