Every parent wants their child to pull their weight. After all, you don’t want to be picking up after them forever! So, alongside doing the dishes and making their bed, you may also put them behind a lawnmower to take care of yard maintenance, too.

But the age-old question remains: When is a good time to ask children to mow lawns? Here’s everything you need to know about getting the kids to muck in.

The right age for them to start mowing your lawns

Children can begin helping out around the house at any age. In fact, many parents establish chores lists and star charts so kids can gain independence and earn pocket money. When it comes to lawn mowing, though, there is a recommended age for them to begin.

Children should not get behind a push mower until they are at least 12 years old. The American Pediatric Society recommends this as a starting age. However, if you do not believe your 12-year-old can safely manage a lawnmower at this age, then you may like to wait until they are a bit older.

If you have a ride-on lawnmower, then wait until they are 16 years old before giving them this responsibility.

How to know if your child is ready to mow your lawns

Not every 12-year-old will be ready to mow your lawns, and that’s okay. There are signs to look out for to ensure they are able to handle such an important task.

For example, they should have the maturity it takes to use a push mower, and both coordination and strength. See what they are like pushing the mower when it’s off. Do they have full control of the handle? Is it light enough for them to push?

If you’re feeling confident enough to give them the green light, then you must make sure they know how to do the job safely. Supervise them mowing until you’re sure they can manage the task on their own. 

Explaining lawn mower safety carefully

Children may not entirely understand the dangers involved with lawn mower use. Blades can spin as fast as 2750 RPM, if not faster, which can be a recipe for disaster if put in contact with fingers.

Before you give your children the freedom to mow your lawns, make sure they know how to operate it safely. Put all protective shields in place and make sure your child wears non-slip, steel-capped footwear. Safety goggles and hearing protection are also must-have accessories.

You can then run them through particular hurdles they may come across while mowing, and what they can do about them. These might include:

• Watching out for obstacles

• Picking up toys, rocks, sticks, and other potentially-damaging objects before starting

• Avoiding mowing in reverse as much as possible

• Taking care while mowing on slopes

• Being aware of everyone and everything around you

• Mowing across the face of slopes

Run through a pre-mow checklist

Children may be quite excited about the prospect of being able to mow the lawns as their parents do. But what they may not see is that there is quite a lot to think about and do before the lawn mowing task begins.If you think it would help, create a pre-mow checklist for your child so that they can safely operate the mower.

1. Ask a caregiver to check the fuel and oil levels

2. Ask a caregiver to make sure the blades are sharp, and the spark plugs are clean

3. Ask a caregiver to check the filters

4. Clear the lawn area of any obstacles

5. Put on safety goggles and ear protection

6. Put on non-slip, steel-capped shoes

7. Ask a caregiver to turn the mower on

Your child should also only operate a push mower or ride-on mower that automatically turns off. Some ride-on lawnmowers stop when you get off the seat, while push-mowers can stop when you take your hands off the handle.

Always put safety first

Children can gain a sense of independence by carrying out household chores. It also allows them to earn their own pocket money and feel a sense of importance. Still, not every child is going to be up to the task of lawn mowing. If that’s the case, then come up with something else they can do, instead.

Put them onto the task of weeding or gardening, or even get them to focus on inside tasks. You can then leave lawn mowing in the capable hands of a lawn care company that can take all the stress off of your shoulders.