At what age do you think a kid can mow the lawn?

[KirstenB]

Our dd is 9. I can't imagine letting her cut the grass next year. She's a cautious kid, but there's just too much that can happen. 12 sounds right to me.

 

[Freyja]

I´d say 10. My son was 11 but that was just because we didn´t have a lawn until then.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I think that there is a huge age range that might be acceptable.

Some kids shouldn't ever be allowed around anything with a gas engine.
Some kids take to stuff like this right away.
Some kids beg.
Some kids would have a complete fit if asked to help out.

You really can't pass a blanket judgement call on something like this.

I am a farly protective parent.
My son is 9.
He LOVES LOVES LOVES to mow. It is like a 'thing' for him!
He has been pushing toy mowers, and an old-fashioned reel mower, since he could walk. He has been riding on DH's and Grandpa's lawn tractors since then too. He is very capable, and we let him mow sections of our lawn at a time, with just some oversight and guidance. Not a lot of actual supervision.

We would have a hard time trying to tell him "No, you can't help mow the grass". He would beg. He loves it and he feels mature and like he is helping out!

 

[beavismom]

My DS started mowing at 11, but his 9 year old sister wanted in on the money too so we checked them both out on the mower (it is self propelled), gave them the rules (closed toed shoes, check the area for rocks and foreign objects, wear sunglasses to protect eyes) and they are both able to do a great job on the yard. We don't allow them to add gas though.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I think I was probably doing it around 8 or 9 on a riding mower with big hills.


Our kids were about 9 or 10 with a push mower in the section of lawn that has no hills, tree roots, or rocks. Then around 13 or 14 they started doing the riding mower.

 

[poohandwendy]

Depends on the kid and on the lawn, here we have more yards with hills than not. Maturity, strength, good sense and a lawn that is not a challenge...with supervision, I don't see a problem.

 

[CEDmom]

My brothers were mowing around age 9. I think if the 10 yo is responsible and abides by safety precautions (wearing sneakers and safety goggles) then I think it's perfectly fine. I'm guessing an adult will be around while he's mowing.

 

[ozarkmom]

Depends on the kid and lawn. My son has friends that were raised on the farm and were riding tractors and doing chores at that age.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

definitely depends on the kid.

I started around 10 or 11, but dad did the steep slopes next to the road the first couple years. Took like 2 hours (push mower).....but I got paid, so it was worth it!

 

[Kats~Meow]

My older brothers started mowing the grass around the age of 11 or 12 on a riding mower.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

My daughter just started mowing, she's not quite 12. As for safety concerns, there really isn't any way she could hurt herself, unless a rock or something kicked up.

 

[AmazingGrace]

Mt seven year old has been mowing lawns for three years now. She used to wear flip flops, but now she wears crocs because they're so much safer!!

No, seriously, my son started mowing with superrvision when he was 12. so far, he still has all his body parts and he's actually made some money doing it.

 

[PatsGirl]

I think my son started mowing the lawn at about 11 or 12. I do remember that he had a very hard time pushing the mower so I bought an electric one that was much lighter. How stupid Within 20 minutes he had mowed over the electrical wire and from what I understand we are very lucky that he wasn't eletrocuted. I then went out with him and showed him exactly how to keep the wire out of the way and supervised him for the next year or so. By his early teen years I purchased a gas mower again and with some prodding still helps out sometimes.

 

[golfgal]

Our kids started when they were 10. They do a nice job and usually argue who gets to do it because it is a money making chore at our house. We have a large lot but no real hills. They don't fill the tank though, well, DS15 does but the twins don't yet.

I know plenty of 40 year old men that have had major lawn mowing accidents so age doesn't always mean anything.

 

[disney4us2002]

I guess I'm paranoid because there is not a chance my kids would mow before 14. My 11 yr old is on a soccer team with another 11 yr old with half a foot due to a mower accident two summers ago (he was nine). He slipped, the mower came backwards and he lost half of his left foot. He has had 12 surgeries according to his mom. He is still a pretty good soccer player actually.

 

[aprilgail2]

I was in 5th grade when I started cutting my lawn and 2 of my neighbors lawns for money. So what would that be 10 or so I think....

 

[poohandwendy]

Not to be captain obvious, but just a reminder. Make sure that your kids are aware of any low spots or holes in your lawn, because they are one of the main causes of slipping and losing control of the mower. Many times kids (and adults) don't see them coming. Just a thought.

 

[Becky2005]

I wouldn't but that's because I don't trust my 10 year old to not destroy something or maim himself in some way.

I was just thinking about this the other day as I have seen other kids his age out there mowing but maybe it's something with push lawnmowers? Mentioned to DH and he just looked at me like "NO WAY" for our older DS at this point.

My dad would NEVER let me use the push lawnmower period. We had a big lawn so we had a riding mower but there are parts that need to be done with the push mower. He would let me do the riding mower but I never used a push mower in my life until I got married -- used it one time and now let DH do the yard (I was trying to do him a favor but I didn't realize we had a self-propelled? lawnmower and I apparently was doing a lot more work than I needed to!).

I do believe I was older than 10 though -- I'm thinking closer to 12-13 for the riding lawn mower, my dad always did the first round so we basically had a path to follow.

I really have no idea when we would let them mow the lawn. My DD is 13 and I know she's never mowed it.

 

[Becky2005]

Yikes that is a little scary! One of our safety rules is no one is allowed in the yard when the mower is going.

Even when all the kids were little, if I saw any of our immediate neighbors (i.e. yards attached to ours) out mowing, they were not allowed out. I didn't need an unexpected projectile from their mower come flying this way.

 

[grlpwrd]

My girls started mowing the lawn with a rotary mower when they were 8 yo. Then by 9yo they moved up to using a gas lawn mower. We don't have a riding mower because part of our yard is on a slope. They are responsible and have been in Girl Scouts for years so I feel they are highly capable.

I have always taught them how to use tools and equipment. Of course, within reason - I am not going to let them use something dangerous like a chainsaw. I worked in home improvement for many years and I am an avid gardener. My dh also grew up on a farm so it is tradition.

No hills, always wear safety goggles and headgear, we do a walk through to make sure there are no debris/rocks/etc and to fill holes, and I am always very nearby.

Yikes that is a little scary! One of our safety rules is no one is allowed in the yard when the mower is going.

Yes, that is one of our major rules, too. I have everyone else stay in the house to be safe.

ETA: I am safety militant anyway so I think this has a lot to do with it.