My 6yo has been excavating the backyard for like two months. Started as just a little thing and now there are literal craters everywhere. Neighbors are probably wondering what's wrong with us. I let him do it because at least he's outside but ngl it's getting out of hand. Should I just let him keep going or finally say something?
Honestly the neighbor thing is overblown. They probably have their own weird yard stuff going on. Kids dig. It's what they do. You're letting him explore and get messy - that's good parenting
lol the hole phase. Mine's still in it at 7. Pro tip: give him a specific area to dig and he'll actually respect it because it feels official. We marked off a corner of the yard and got him a real shovel and suddenly it's his "excavation site" instead of destruction.
This is actually peak 6yo behavior. He's basically a tiny archaeologist. Let him keep going honestly - digging teaches him spatial reasoning, physics, how to problem solve. The backyard recovers. Childhood doesn't last as long
designated dig site is genius. we're gonna try this. my dude has basically turned the whole yard into an obstacle course of holes
My neighbor's kid did this for an entire summer. Turned out he wanted to find "dinosaur bones" or something. One day he just... stopped. Now he's into rocks. The craters eventually turned into little pathways. Your neighbors probably get it more than you think.
Two months though is commitment. Have you asked him what he's actually looking for? Some kids are just kinesthetic learners and need to move earth. Others are searching for something specific and once you know that you can redirect it way easier.
my 7yo did this for THREE YEARS. We eventually designated one corner of the yard as the 'official dig site' so the craters were contained. He found rocks and roots and stayed entertained for hours while I worked. Win-win
Honestly I'd lean into it. Get him one of those cheap metal detectors, treat it like an archaeology project, take some photos for the grandparents. He's problem-solving and being active - way better than him staring at a screen. The holes will fill back in.
This is actually pretty normal development stuff - sensory play, problem-solving, digging is like the ancient kid thing. Your backyard is basically a construction site and he's the foreman. Just make sure there's nothing dangerous (pipes, electrical) in his excavation zones and let him go honestly.
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You said you let him but cut off mid-sentence. What's the but? Are you worried about injuries, property, mosquito breeding grounds? That matters for advice
The craters thing is funny but also make sure he's not finding random metal or old nails or stuff buried. Tetanus shots exist but wouldn't recommend learning about them this way