Involve Your Toddler or Preschooler in Fall Yard Work

If you have a toddler or preschooler, don't miss the opportunity to work outside together this fall. There is so much to be done in the yard during the fall to prepare for winter and there is no reason why toddlers and preschoolers shouldn't get in on the action. Here are some ideas for involving your toddler or preschooler in fall yard work.

If you have a tree (or multiple trees) that drops seeds, nuts, or other "fruit" enlist your child to help you clean it up. Our son does a great job of picking up walnuts, or "balls" as he calls them, out of the yard. Acorns, catalpa seed pods, and other yard waste are great for young children to collect in a container, and helpful to you. If you have an older preschooler you might even offer up a special reward for filling a particular container to the brim with whatever is littering your yard.

If you are planting fall bulbs for spring flowers, get your little one involved in this task as well. Dig holes for the bulbs yourself then ask you child to put one bulb in each hole. Then you can work together to fill the holes back up with soil. Every toddler and preschooler loves getting dirty!

Raking leaves is an inevitable task for all homeowners in the fall. Not only will your toddler or preschooler have a blast playing in the leaves, you can also get him to help you out when collecting them. As you rake a particular area ask your child to go back to the area and pick up any leftover leaves. Tell her you want to see the green grass and that is all. This is fun for preschoolers and gives your child a task to keep him from scattering around all of the leaves you've just raked!

A final way that you can enlist the help of your preschooler or toddler as you work in the yard this fall is to let him sweep the porch, deck, sidewalk, and other outdoor areas. Toddlers and preschoolers love mimicking their parents, so mom or dad can grab a full-sized broom and then provide a short broom for your child to use. You can work together to sweep the areas clean of leaves and other debris.

You can get your yard cleaned up this fall and still spend quality time with your toddler or preschooler by following these simple tips.