I love spring. I love the snow melting and feeling a teensy bit of warmth when standing in the sun.
For all its wonderful qualities, spring is ugly… am I right? Late spring is beautiful but early spring is blah. Dirty snow melting, garbage blown about through the winter being unearthed, leaves you didn’t get to in the fall matting to the ground, it’s just not appealing.
I have fond (yes fond) memories of our schoolyard spring cleanups that took place in my youth, likely because I enjoyed a break from sitting inside a classroom and the opportunity to get outside during school hours. I’m sure schools still do this and I think it’d be a great thing to adopt as a family as well.
As with most things in life, I find them more fun if I make a game of it. I’m definitely down for a little friendly clean up competition. Timed competitions don’t work well for this type of thing in my family, as things will get skipped in order to be done faster. That said, a challenge to see which team can collect the most garbage would likely be a great idea.
Before you start your yard cleanup, make sure you outfit your family with gloves and trash bags. This is especially important if you are going to venture out and do a block pick up as well.
I love the idea of doing a friendly neighbourly gesture and cleaning up the whole block. Obviously by that I mean cleaning up the sidewalks and roadways and not going onto your neighbours’ yards. But if someone wants to come on my yard and pick up trash I’m OK with that.
Also be sure to tell your kids not to pick up things like needles or cigarette butts.
Blast some music while you clean or rake, and then reward the family for a job well done by heading out for ice cream or any other desirable treat. The fresh air will benefit all and like they say, “many hands make light work.”
