Sheltering in place has been a challenging time for many families. So many people have had to figure out new ways to do things, leading to a lot more kids helping out. We saw so many great examples of kids helping out that we wanted to recognize them here.
You’ll learn about Noah, who learned how to fix the toilet because his dad was down and out from surgery. You’ll meet Laura, who learned to mow the lawn on her own for the first time. (It was not a riding or easy push kind of mower either.) Look for Lydia, who made her own mancala board out of wood and then taught her brother how to play. Finally, get to know Terry, who made his own floating platform bed, using his own money. His family has been hit financially by everything going on, and he found his own way to help.
Our Independence Challenge truly showed us the truth: Kids today are at LEAST as smart, strong and capable as their parents were at their age. They just needed a chance to prove it! To check out their stories, just click on a photo, scroll through, and read about what they did. These kids really inspired us, and we hope they inspire you—especially your kids! And who knows? Maybe photos of your kids helping out will be featured in the next Independence Challenge.
By the way, you can see a full list of the winners from the Independence Challenge right here. You can also get our Independence Kit, a free download, to encourage your kids to be more independent and take on challenges of their own. It’s right here.
Angelina, 10
Since my grandpa can not go out and get a haircut, I decided to do it for him. At first he was a little nervous but then when he saw the result, he loved it. He told me that the next time he needs a haircut, I can do it. -Angelina
Bryce, 11
This is my son, Bryce. Since starting occupational therapy, he now has the strength in his fingers and hands to wash his own dishes. -Brittany
Henry, 11
Henry is a natural on the riding lawnmower. He pulls the wagon to haul things for the garden, too. He is quite proud that he can mow lawn for the family. -Lisa
Jamison, 10
Jamison has been learning how to manage a new list of responsibilities, both for himself and our household. He has learned that having a sense of humor and being able to multitask help make everyday chores like showering and cleaning fun! -Richelle
Jo, 12
This is Joe, fixing the computer. -Molli
Lillian, 7
Lillian is the oldest of 4 siblings and wanted to find a way to help out around the house, so she’s in charge of putting dried clothes in the basket and helping to sort and fold for the whole family. -Alicia
Noah, 13
The toilet fill valve needed to be replaced and my dad couldn't do it bc he just had back surgery, so I learned how! -Noah
Phoenix, 5
Phoenix is currently helping his dad take the spare parts off a “parts” car to restore a 1959 Edsel Villager. -Melissa, Phoenix's mom
Carmello, 10
My new job that I’ve taken on is taking care of our chickens. -Carmello
Montana, 9
Montana is stepping up to some of the tasks around the homestead, like chopping wood and building a fire in the woodstove, all by himself. -Keeth, Montana’s dad
Kylie, 8
She saw the check engine light come on and wondered what was all under the hood. -Shaby, Kylie's mom
Mya and Amy, 6
These tough twins stack all the wood for winter. -Tina
Laura, 11
This is me mowing the lawn for the first time ever. It was very difficult, but I still persevered. -Laura
Lydia, 13
I played mancala online and I got the idea of making my own real life board. My mom has been teaching me woodworking for a while, and this time I wanted to do it all by myself. I sawed, drilled, sanded, and stained all on my own. And then I taught my brother how to play the game. -Lydia
Julian and Lily, 11 and 8
Julian and Lily decided to clean out our “junk room” and turn it into their very own greenhouse. They did all the work themselves from cleaning it out, finding pots, soil and seeds, and doing the planting and watering. -Debbie, Julia and Lily's mom
Owen, 13
Owen is hesitant to interact with his younger brother, who is nonverbal and has multiple disabilities (and a great smile). While walking recently at a nearby state park, he asked if he could have a turn pushing the stroller and quickly gave himself and his little brother quite a thrill! -Gary, Owen's dad
Nari, 11
This me practicing new hairstyle l see on YouTube so I can do my own hair. It’s been keeping my very busy. -Nari
Shaikh, 17
I am a 17-year-old high school student. Since the closure of school due to the corona pandemic, I decided to not waste my free time and began working at KFC. I got to learn new skills every day such as communicating with different attitudes of people and working under pressure. On top of that, I am earning money to save for my college tuition. I am also putting a less financial burden on my parents during this hard time.
Terry, 15
My family has been impacted financially due to Covid-19, and since I needed a new bed, I took it upon myself to use some of my savings, purchase my own materials, and build my own floating bed. watched videos on the Internet on how to build a floating bed and now I am floating on Cloud nine and it's very comfortable. It also saved my family a lot of money from purchasing a bed for me. -Terry
Danika, 11
Danika has been stepping up and helping in the set up and care of our new home garden. In the picture she dug a tunnel for the pipe we were laying. She dug her heart out! -Tisha
Jaxon, 7
When you run and own a family business, everyone in the family helps out. Here is our son compacting some gravel that dad just spread, one of his favorite ways to help. He also knows how to run the excavator and split wood! -Krysta
Ben, 16
He planned a meal, did the food shopping and prepared a delicious dinner for our family... without being asked or guided. He has always enjoyed cooking, but really upped his game recently by working as a cook at Waffle House. -Caroline
Connor and Aurora
The kids were helping the grandparents plant potatoes, working together, which never happens without arguing! -Angela
