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Having children mow the lawn can be a great way to teach them responsibility and help them learn a skill they can use for the rest of their lives. It’s important to take the time to make sure to teach them how to mow in the safest way possible to minimize the chances of them getting hurt, causing damage to the mower, or causing damage to your property. These five safety tips can help ensure children are as safe as possible when they learn to mow.
1- Children Properly Protect Themselves Before Mowing
Mowing can be dangerous regardless of what type of mower you use. Having your child protect themselves maximizes safety and helps to reinforce how important it is to take mowing seriously. Have your child wear closed-toe shoes when they mow to protect their feet. Have them put on sunblock to keep their skin protected from the sun and have them wear some form of eye protection to protect their eyes from possible projectiles that can fly around when mowing.
2- Teach Children How A Mower Works
It’s essential to teach your child how a mower works before they start mowing. Teach them how to engage the mower, show them the blades and demonstrate how to operate the mower as it is in motion. This makes it easier to anticipate how clippings will come out of mower shoot and what areas they can mow and which areas they should avoid, such as stumps in the yard.
3- Prep the Yard for Mowing
Before mowing, all obstacles need to be removed from the yard. Have your child remove branches, outdoor toys, trash, or rocks from the yard before they start mowing. This decreases the chances of projectiles being created as your child mows and could spark them to put away their toys more regularly because they’re taught why they shouldn’t be left in the yard when it comes to mowing.
4- Create a Mowing Route
Help your child learn what route to take when they mow before they start. You need to consider how possible projectiles will come out of the mower to ensure items do not fly toward your vehicles or your home. Creating a route provides your child with a guide to follow which allows them to focus on the task at hand rather than worrying that they could cause damage to cars or the house.
5- Troubleshoot Issues that Can Arise When Mowing
Explain to your child possible issues that could arise when mowing and what they need to do to handle the situation. They need to know what to do if the mower stops working, how to refill the gas if the mower runs out and what issues they should not address on their own. You don’t want them to try to remove an obstruction or make repairs on their own because it could lead to an injury or damage to the mower.
Be sure to be present when your child is mowing. If an accident happens or an issue arises, you need to be available to provide your child with the help that they need. It’s best to have your child start off with small areas when first mowing so they can learn what they are doing and feel empowered before trying to tackle bigger areas.
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