Octopuses Garden

This spring our yard looks like the gopher from Caddyshack won.  Each year we forge an uphill battle against an aggressive weed that is seeking dominance in our yard, we call her Audrey, spending hours trying to keep her at bay .  We know that it will take a lot of work over the next few weeks to get our garden planting ready and our backyard summer ready.  We also need to get things done with our little toddler "helpers" close at hand.  Below are some tricks and techniques to help entertain little ones while you clean up your yard and actually get work done.  This weekend we were able to clear our yard of five giant garden bags worth of sticks, weeds and rubble, all while the minions were in the yard beside us.

10 Ways to Get Yard Work Done With Toddlers

1. Set out a multiple course picnic that features their favourite foods. Raspberries, granola bars, Watermelon...anything they love that will distract them.
2. Suggest that they pick all of the yellow flowers (dandelions), preferably by the root (they totally won't do this) and then put them in a bowl.
3. When the confines of a gated yard just isn't enough, strap them into a swing and push them every few minutes while you work.
4. Never underestimate the power of simple games like catch or kicking a ball back and forth while you work.
5. Side Walk Chalk.
6. Set up a toy car wash - here's how.
7. Give them assignments: collecting all the little sticks and putting them into a garden bag or collecting random rocks around the yard so you won't run them over while you mow the grass are helpful and time consuming tasks.
8. Let them pick out a plant of their own to water and care for.
9. Know when to divide and conquer.  Certain tasks, say painting picnic tables, are best tackled during nap time or during TV time.
10. Be prepared for some short shifts and sometimes frustrating shifts on yard work  They will undo some of your work, and that's okay - those topiary bushes that look like your family crest probably aren't going to happen this year.  Sometimes scheduling half an hour after work every day for the week is the only way to get things done.

Watching dad work from the top of her slide.

Bowl of dandelion heads.

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