http://www.landsteward.com

Flower gardens, landscaping and other outdoor projects enhance our
property in many ways. Proper arrangements can be aesthetically
pleasing or maybe a hedgerow can act as a windbreak or even a refuge
for wildlife.

Many an afternoon can be casually spent in a Zen-like trance removing
weeds from a flower bed or tomato patch. But, as some already know,
landscaping can be a real "family affair" where children from toddler
to teen-ager can be very productive with the workload and enhance
their sense of self-worth and accomplishment at the same time.

Children love to be or help to a parent and outdoor work provides
plenty of opportunities for them to participate ... even more so than
most hobbies where skill and motor coordination is needed just to
become involved.

For example, if your outdoor fun was snow skiing your child would have
to be equipped with all the gear necessary, be trained to ski and then
would only be at the skill level proper for their age-group. Parents
would then be requited to skiing the bunny trail if their offspring
were not to such a skill level to allow anything different. Even
simple things like hiking require a certain degree of motor skills and
experience. Imagine traversing a rocky terrain with a four-year old.
Talk about your heart being in your throat as you watch your child
totter over sharp pointy rocks a slip away from a trip to the
emergency room! Again, not very fulfilling for you as a parent.

Outdoor projects, as opposed to the above sports type hobbies, provide
plenty of room for adult skill and child participation.

"Bring Mommy the little shovel," a parent could tell her child in a
real-life scenario as she prepares the soil for a new tree. "Now help
me take some of this dirt out of the hole."

The child then becomes as involved as the parent, if not as
productive.

Several things are accomplished in this way. For one thing, the child
feels involved and wanted instead of a hindrance to a parent.

"Hey, I'm a big boy/girl," they think. "I'm being of help to my Dad
and he's not yelling at me to get out of the way. Instead he's happy
with me."

Another important process going on is the child begins to enjoy work.
They see it not as a thing they have to do like take out the trash ...
an unwanted task, but a joy. Instead of sitting inside watching reruns
on TV or playing the latest video game, the child is learning hand-eye
coordination and even feels a sense of accomplishment after a job well
done.

And as a bonus, the parents receive a new tree, flower garden or other
attractive addition to their yard!

To contact Steve Jones with your comments and questions, send e-mail
to http://www.landsteward.com