8 Tips: Picking strawberries with kids

Looking for tips for berry picking with kids? It's strawberry season in Greenville and picking your own berries can be a great family outing. In fact, strawberry picking is one of our favorite things to do in Greenville!

Planning ahead is a great way to make sure that picking strawberries is fun (and not stressful). These tips from my own experience and our readers will help you have a great time in the berry patch!

Plan your trip, don't miss this list of u-pick strawberry patches near Greenville, SC or this list of u-pick strawberry patches near Columbia, SC.

Strawberries in the patchPhoto byKidding Around Greenville

Tips for Picking Your Own Strawberries

Tip #1: It can get really hot in a strawberry patch. Pick in the early morning or early evening if possible, and be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat if you are picking in the heat of the day. Don't forget to bring water!

Tip #2: Be sure the kids use the bathroom before you leave the house. You might be lucky and the farm will have a porta-potty, or there might not be any facilities at all.

Tip #3: Wear appropriate shoes and clothing. It's a dirty job and there will likely be fire ant hills and other insects. This is not the place for cute sandals. Closed-toe shoes are a must.

Consider bringing a change of shoes if it has recently rained and a plastic bag to hold the dirty shoes on the ride home.

Tip #4: Be respectful of the farm. Coach your kids on good behavior such as not stepping on plants and only picking what you plan to keep. Some farms may also ask that you not eat strawberries while picking.

Tip #5: Call ahead to be sure that the patch is still offering pick-your-own strawberries. The pick-your-own berry season is typically only at the peak of the season and picking days and hours will most definitely change depending on demand, the crop, and recent weather.

Tip #6: Bring gallon baskets. Most patches ask that you only use approved gallon baskets or buckets. Usually, you can reuse baskets from year to year from local patches. Plan on spending a little extra money on purchasing approved baskets if you don't already own some.

Tip #7: Keep your expectations low. You're there to have fun. If you have young kids, you might not be there long. If things don't go as planned and the kids are really not into the picking part, just enjoy the patch and then go buy a bucket of pre-picked berries.

Tip #8: Keep tabs on what the kids are picking. If you don't, you may end up with 5 gallons of under-ripe berries.

Just want to celebrate berry season? Here's a list of strawberry festivals near the Carolinas.