If your children are like mine (and they probably are), then they love helping out with anything (and everything!) they can. Whether it’s making dinner, digging out in the garden, or even trying their hands at dressing mum, they simply always want to be involved. Some activities are fun and easy to have the kids along, and allow them to learn and grow while spending quality time with family. It’s the best of all worlds, and whenever possible, I include them in just about everything I do.
There are certain larger projects though, that are impractical for little ones; tasks such as home renovation and improvement can even be dangerous for adults, and when kids get involved they risk harming the progress – not to mention themselves! But there are a few things you can still have them do to keep them involved, and allow them to lend a hand without hurting one, too.
Paint and Tile
 |
| [Image Source: Paint, Tile] |
You can bring your children to the hardware store and have them help pick out a colour or tile – especially if it’s for their room – but if you don’t have anything specific in mind, they’ll likely be excited to help design yours, too! If you already have a picture of what you’re looking for, then you can have them help with the actual process – just make sure you have proper protection for your little ones and home. Painting is easier, but tiling can be simple for them too once they learn the technique.
Curtains
Curtains are a great way to accent a room if you aren’t wanting to change its colour or drastically alter the overall construction and layout. Whether it’s with a bold fabric that makes a statement, or a subtle pattern or hue that acts as an accent, the curtains in a room are a detail that guests will likely notice. Your kids can help you pick from a nearly endless number of premade styles online or at the store, or if you are wanting a completely customized look you can teach them how to sew while you make the curtains together at home.
Buying them will be faster and easier, so if you’re in a rush to finish up it might be the better bet; but sewing your own allows you to make the design entirely yours – and gives you a chance to teach your children a useful skill that they’ll remember forever!
Rugs
For houses like mine with primarily wooden floors, rugs are an absolute necessity. Not only do they break up the monotony of solid brown and add a bit of style to my rooms, they help to insulate the areas and keep feet protected from the cold hard surface underneath. A large area rug is something that might be challenging to make on your own, but there are stores that let you select colour and style combinations that are a bit more custom than what’s available premade. Have your kids along with you to give their opinions on textures, patterns, and even sizing to help them feel involved in the project.
Accessories and Décor
 |
| [Image Source: Pillows, Lamp Shade] |
Accessories are always fun, and though it may not seem like it, they make a huge difference on the overall design of a room. Typically they are used to accent the colours you have in major features like paint or tile, and can be applied in both complementary and contrasting ways depending on what you want to highlight. You can decorate with pillows, lighting, pieces of art, or pretty much anything you can think of – the possibilities are nearly endless here!
This is the perfect place to have your kids involved too, since they can help you pick out décor at the store, or make them with you during an at-home activity. Letting them pick out a fabric and then teaching them sew a pillow for instance is an easy, inexpensive, and fun project that gets them involved and learning.
Whether it’s with a larger task like painting and tiling, or a smaller job like picking out décor, there’s no doubt that your children will be excited to help. They can feel a part of home projects, and can develop knowledge and skills that they’ll use again and again – especially if you let them! I still remember helping my own mum with the design of her home; every time I visit there’s a nice memory of the time we spent together doing it too, which is something I can’t wait to give my kids.
