Would you let your 6yo mow the grass with an electric lawn mower?

[OhMowGod]

Supervised by their dad?

I say a big fat pissed off no.

His dad says Im wrapping him up in cotton wool and carried on regardless.

AIBU or is he?

My dd 6 uses a mixer to make cakes, I am in the kitchen at the same time but not right there. She knows not to put her fingers near it etc, but I am pretty rubbish at health and safety

Milbra

My son is screwed then! Not having a dad on the scene to teach him that stuff

Funny how at 9 he can mow the lawn and cook a BBQ with close supervision... Must have watched a neighbour or something!

Personally I think 6 is too young for anymore than a quick push under very close supervision

Flobbadobs, YoniBottsBumgina and Dayshiftdoris

My point relies on the admitedly generalised view that blokes are more outgoing, adventurous and less risk-adverse than women. It is not the presence of particular genital plumbing that matters - more the state of mind of the individual.

I was talking in general terms, and didn't expect some to have taken it perhaps a bit personally.

Hell no way that is ridiculously dangerous stop it now before he gets hurt.

No way would I let a child under 12 use a power tool without very close 1:1 supervision, and then depending on the maturity of the child post 12.
But if the adult is supervising properly, the child will be fine. How much do you trust your OH to do the job?
Mine were both using chisels to carve at 6, but we are very strict about safety.

I didn't take it personally at all milbra , it just doesn't always work like that (although sometimes it probably does).
DS fixed our garage roof not too long ago, he's 12. He had to do it because quite frankly me and Dh are too heavy to stay up there. DH doesn't do heights so I was stood at the top of the ladder running commentary between him on the ground and DS on the roof. The best of both I think!

No way.

supervised with the adult holding the cable, absolutely yes.

Ive never mowed a lawn. Perhaps this is why Im over anxious about it. That, and Im generally over anxious and my son is very clumsy.

So I take it, I ABU.

My sil was mowing my lawn, it was on a hill, she slipped and lost some of her big toe, after dealing with that now only dp mows the lawn and I sit and supervise carefully whilst quietly hyperventilating!

Its really quite hard to run over your toes with a modern law mower. As long as he is behind it pushing it forward, has someone holding the cable out of the way (and making sure he is behind it and pushing it forward only) then I wouldn't have a problem with it. Then again, ds is 8 and likes to help me build flat pack with the electric screwdriver, he's also quite handy with the drill. He is learning how to assess risk himself (under close supervision) which I think is a very important life skill

At 6, I wouldn't.

last week, DS 17, was left unsupervised cutting the grass and managed to cut the cable. He was quite embarrassed. It's been his job for a couple of years so he should have been more on the ball. Probably distracted by ipod

This is an argument between you and dp. Its not really relevant what mumsnet thinks if you can't agree between you.

Yes. With good supervision and stout shoes.

Only under very close and constant supervision.

I'm always startled by women who have never mown the lawn (unless they haven't got one of course). They don't especially need you to be strong. I use our petrol mower (and fix it if its not working) and it has self propelling on it. I even used to mow with dd in a backpack on my back (with ear defenders on her) when she hated being left alone. Granted it would have been trickier with more than one but then I would have done it when dh was around.

With modern power tools I don't understand the divvying up of his and her jobs. We are both capable of doing all the jobs around the house. The only thing dh has never been able to do is bf.

Me too OYBBK. Mowing the lawn is much the same as hoovering.

He's likely to stay clumsy and nervous if he never has a go at anything with a patient and sensible teacher.Do you let him help with cooking, including cutting and peeling and chopping?

'she slipped and lost some of her big toe'

So she was wearing flip flops, open-toed shoes or bare feet? Not sensible.

Agree with Milbra.

DH lets DC do things I find a bit scary.

I focus very much on keeping them out of dangerous situations, DH focusses on teaching them how to behave rather than avoid them, (example today , taking them out cycling on busy road) . I was not sure about the risk, but H said that with appropriate clothes, lights, hat they should learn how to cycle safely.

You do have to work together and decide as a team though, or you will both get very stressed and cross with each other. Compromise.

Yes with proper, sensible supervision

I'm fairly relaxed about health and safety and think its important for children to take controlled risks, but there is no way on earth I'd let my six year old use the lawnmower. Its not just the blades, its more if he mowed over a stone or something and it flew up into the air. I've often mowed over a bit of bark or something and been hit in the arm or leg with it.

Also DP's uncle managed to chop his own finger off with an electric lawnmower. I know he was being an idiot and trying to untangle something from the blades without switching the lawnmower off first, but I can't get the image of his half a finger out of my head!!

Yes, eyesunderarock, that is true.

We always discuss things like this.

Withthe lawnmower, in the situation as described and with a sensible child, I might well be persuaded .

Now DH sonetimes gets it wrong, like when he gave the 4 yr old a pocket knife ! Though DS cut himself, handed the knife back, and is now very careful with knives, still I was mighty cross !

I filled up the lawn mower with petrol the other day as have a real fear that my sons might spill it on them and explode in flames.

they are 23 and 22.. I am a worrier though!😂