What age is appropriate for children to mow grass?

[Anonymous]

Big controversey in our neighborhood in Del Ray re: kids mowing grass. So much so, that our neighborhood list server was all ablaze, and a conservative neighbor (yes, in Del Ray) even penned a controversial article criticizing the posters who expressed concern about some children going door to door mowing lawns, without adult supervision, at ages 8-10 years old.

So, what age is it appropriate for children to try to earn spending money by mowing? The APA supposedly recommends age 12. These kids were well under that. No parents anywhere in sight. And, apparently, they weren't wearing closed toed shoes or protective eye wear.

DCUM, what sayeth you?

I am a Del Ray resident, and my thoughts are that it's OK for young kids to earn money in safe ways like lemonade stands, babysitting, raking leaves, shoveling snow, mothers helper, etc., but door-to-door mowing is a bit unsafe especially without a parent there watching.

[Anonymous]

9

[Anonymous]

When they're taller than the lawn mower.

Are these push lawn mowers, or gas-powered lawn mowers?

[Anonymous]

OP here. My understanding is that these were gas-mowers, not the push kind.

[Anonymous]

I would be OK with a younger child (under 12) using those non-gas spinning push mowers, but not the traditional gas kind with the sharp spinning blades...no protective eyewear, no close-toed shoes. That's just kind of crazy.

I might let my 10-year-old attempt to mow our own lawn with a gas-powered mower if (and only if), my husband was right next to him supervising.

[Anonymous]

PP, but I would never send a kid age 8-10 out door-to-door unsupervised with a gas mower.

[Anonymous]

Del Ray - flat postage size lots? We aren't talking about the 8 year olds in burke who drive the riding mowers? (OK I only know of one, but all the other kids are jealous)

closed toe shoes are a must. But, if you can push it, you can mow it. My kids mow our 3/4 acre hilly lawn at 10, when they can manage the gas powered mower. I remember I used my g'pa push mower much younger for his city lot.

[Anonymous]

What kind of parent sends an 8-year-old out unsupervised with a gas lawn mower going door to door in an urban neighborhood? IMO, not a very good one.

Sure, kids want spending money too... but wow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Del Ray - flat postage size lots? We aren't talking about the 8 year olds in burke who drive the riding mowers? (OK I only know of one, but all the other kids are jealous)

closed toe shoes are a must. But, if you can push it, you can mow it. My kids mow our 3/4 acre hilly lawn at 10, when they can manage the gas powered mower. I remember I used my g'pa push mower much younger for his city lot.

But aren't they (weren't you)supervised? Sounds to me like these kids weren't.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's the lawyer in me, but I would never hire a neighborhood kid that young. Waaaay too much assumption of risk! Lol! Even in out small flat lot, I've been hit with rocks etc.

[Anonymous]

I started at 7, often started early after delivering my papers, sold my business after I got out of high school and paid for my education including grad school with the money. still had some left over.

I started with one lawn and it grew to well over 500 by the time i graduated high school.

I say let the kids do it, kids these days are too lazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started at 7, often started early after delivering my papers, sold my business after I got out of high school and paid for my education including grad school with the money. still had some left over.

I started with one lawn and it grew to well over 500 by the time i graduated high school.

I say let the kids do it, kids these days are too lazy.

I call BS on this post.

[Anonymous]

My kids were mowing the lawn at 10 with supervision. By 12, they could do it without supervision. And these are kids who spent every summer working on our family farm. Lawn mowers can be really dangerous. It's very easy to slip on fresh cut grass. I'm pretty laid back, but an 8 year old seems way too young to be pushing a lawn mower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started at 7, often started early after delivering my papers, sold my business after I got out of high school and paid for my education including grad school with the money. still had some left over.

I started with one lawn and it grew to well over 500 by the time i graduated high school.

I say let the kids do it, kids these days are too lazy.

I call BS on this post.

Want to bet?

[Anonymous]

This is a timely post because two weeks ago my husband was hurt mowing our lawn when he ran over a large stick that then flung back cutting his foot and calf pretty badly. Required over 14 stitches.

He was wearing open toed shoes - he knows better and that was obviously lesson number one. Lesson number two was to clear the sticks off the lawn before mowing (another thing he already knew). Anyway, reminder that mowing the lawn requires some basic safety awareness. I wouldn't start earlier than 13 / 14 - or in my husband's case 42.