Dandelions Waiting to Be Picked
Is your yard riddled with dandelions? Instead of cursing those cute yellow moppet tops, consider harvesting the greens and flowers. Yes, my friends, you have real gold out there. What a great way to get your kids outside to play with the added benefit of picking your dandelions. From your harvest, you can make dandelion jelly (coming up on the blog,) enjoy the greens, or simply discard them. But first, let’s talk about how to get your kids dandelion pumped.
Suggestions to Get Them Excited
When I was young, my father would pay us $10 each to pick the dandelions. I guess his theory was if you pulled the flower head off, it couldn’t go to seed. No seeds, less dandelion. Worked for me as I pocketed the money.
Since being small and closer to the ground, pulling the heads were fun. Now, that I am older with more parts that hurt, dandelion flower pulling isn’t an activity that I relish.
Here are some ideas on how to get your kids pumped to pull dandelions:
- Offer a prize for who can pick the most dandelions.
- Pay them by the bucket. Give little ones smaller buckets.
- Time them and make it a game.
- Create a treasure hunt so when they reach a certain amount in the bucket, they get another clue or treat.
- Turn the sprinkler on them as they pick the dandelions.
Pulling the Dandelions Advice
Join the Conversation
- Was I the only one who got paid to pick dandelions?
- Do you have a fun activity to encourage your kids to pick the dandelions?
- If dandelion picking isn’t your thing, then do you have a holistic way of ridding your lawn of them?
Josette says
May 9, 2012 at 3:05 amGreat picture of this flowers. Love it. I agree with you that if going to make dandelion jelly, I would suggest to pull only fully opened flowers.
Anna@Green Talk says
May 9, 2012 at 3:15 amJosette, thanks for the compliment about the picture. Anna
Hyane Y. Dollard says
May 14, 2012 at 12:30 amWe know it’s a kind of short notice, but very valuable and informative post! It was a grateful feeling to get some learning here…Good thing you post such useful information like this.
jane says
May 23, 2012 at 7:15 amI always wanted that my little princess will explore into the happiness, I let her do what she want, whereas I know it won’t hurt to her…
Heidi19 says
May 30, 2012 at 10:51 pmThis can be a great outside activity that will last for many days and doing outside activities like this also teaches kids. Thanks for sharing this to us and i’m looking forward to read more from you.
Lisa J says
April 12, 2013 at 2:30 pmI hire my little ones to pick dandelions for me too. We make a number of things from the flowers like jelly, bread, and fritters as well as dye for fiber. It keeps them busy and is helpful to me. Then we’re all rewarded with a bread and jelly(we call it honey) treat afterwards.
p.s. kids are also great at picking up acorns… 😉