Help you children do the unthinkable – work! It’s not really about getting yard work done. You can help them discover the joy in doing yard work and more importantly the JOY in being all God created them to be. Yeah we know, tell ’em that and they’ll be like, “Whaaaat???” You yourself may not even fully understand what all that means and just how significant it can be. This is more than kids planting and hand tilling in a garden box. So, parents let’s break this down. Here’s how to focus on helping kids find joy in yard work and how God will do the work to build them up so they grow strong in His Spirit.
HOW TO HELP YOUR KIDS DO IT AND ENJOY IT
- Create a family culture and then keep doing it.
- Equip your children and inspire them.
- Be everything a parent should be.
- Pray this becomes part of their positive self-identity.
Think this is going to be easy? Think again, but watch our Faith & Fitness Magazine video to get a glimpse of what’s possible.
THIS IS WHAT WE (WANT TO) DO
As a family you’ll naturally create your own family culture – your rhythm and routine. It’s your traditions, values and rituals. Likely much of that culture has been handed down to you. And what you create will likely be handed down to your children and their children. But here’s the unfortunate reality, many families have a culture that includes way too much tension, poor communication, lack of cooperation, resentment, misunderstanding and missed opportunities to be more peaceful, productive and successful.
Danielle Luebbe at Concordia University Nebraska shares, “Scripture speaks clearly and consistently about the importance of family. Genesis reveals God’s intention for marriage and mutual support. Deuteronomy emphasizes teaching God’s Word to children in the home. The Psalms and Proverbs envision households shaped by wisdom, integrity and generational faithfulness. The New Testament calls believers [people who identify as Christian] to love sacrificially, forgive freely and encourage one another in Christ. When families embrace these values, they become living witnesses to God’s redemptive work. Christian family life education helps households understand these principles and apply them in daily life, strengthening marriages, nurturing children, deepening faith practices and fostering resilience during trials.”
You may not get a Family Life Education degree but every parent and their children will benefit from an ever improving degree of knowledge and practice in Christ-centered family culture. Find resources, be part of supportive groups at your church, read the Bible and pray THEN identify ways you can create a family culture that will ultimately bring you closer to God and help kids find joy in yard work and more. Find what works – then keep doing it. Inside your home and outside on your patio, in your yard or in your garden are the best places to get things done and nurture ‘family’. You’ll not only define a culture of this is what we do but also find joy and confidence in knowing that this is what we WANT TO do.
EQUIP AND INSPIRE
Think it won’t work with your children. Maybe like other parents or grandparents you find yourself saying, “They’ll refuse. It’ll escalate and end up being a big fight. It’s easier to just do it myself — They’ll just never do it.” Well think again. Give ’em a tool and affirm them.
- Identify a job and plan/visualize in advance. Make a list, schedule, anticipate challenges and completion.
- Give children the tools they need and the guidance on what to do.
- Work alongside them and whenever possible let them create ways to be more efficient in doing the job.
- Surprise them with compensation or added value rather than making it a bribe, negotiation or transaction so they gain appreciation and joy in giving of herself or himself.
- When they’re done let them enjoy the space where they’ve worked. Post their accomplishments. Invite family and friends to experience your ‘home’. Inspire your kids with positive feedback and satisfaction.
JUST DO IT @#%*!
Uh yeah, … no that won’t work. Children of all ages need you to be everything a parent should be. Children need to learn. And YOU need to demonstrate some persuasive leadership. Let’s be clear, this isn’t you telling your child what you want him or her to do, then walking away, doing your own thing and coming back later only to find your child didn’t do it. Put away your busyness and help them put away their distractions so that together you can experience the fulfillment in being family.
A gardening lifestyle is being physically vigorous, connecting with the plants and nature surrounding you, being an active and intentional part of the processes and cycles of life and having gratitude in giving. Model what you want them to do and how you want them to do it by joining them in the process and truly having joy in doing yard and garden work yourself.
Find some opportunities to weave faith (invite Christ) into the process. Don’t get weird on them but in advance consider how you might incorporate a moment of prayer, some faith building music in the background, reading a Bible passage or somehow discussing an insight related to God over a cool drink break and more. Don’t force it BUT be attentive to how faith can naturally be an element in the home, yard or the garden.
Right now this is you, in the parent/leadership role instructing, guiding, setting an example and yes, even pushing them when they want to quit. This is the child in the learner, novice, possibly distracted or complaining but also in the inquisitive and yielding/willing role. This is family growing skills together and growing in Christ. Right now you’re showing them what to do and how to do it. But, eventually they’ll gain the knowledge, wisdom, ability and determination to show you what they can do.
LOOK WHAT I CAN DO – LOOK WHAT GOD WILL DO
Ultimately what often happens (though you may not see the evidence for quite some time) is that your children develop a more natural tendency (a willingness even an eagerness) to work and be productive. They care about outcomes. They know how to work without being asked. They embrace their own personal relationship with God. They value a clean and organized home, a beautiful yard and a garden that produces on many levels. These spaces become some of their favorite places to spend time with God.
Helping kids find joy in yard work means helping them discover how robust life can be in Christ. It means equipping them to be generous with their time, effort and passions so that they can discover how extravagant life can be in Christ. You can’t force it to happen. But as you regularly pray this becomes part of their positive self-identity you and your garden AND your children will start to grow in ways you could have never imagined.
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