Get Your Kids Involved With Home Improvement!
Home improvement projects can be a lonely endeavor for grown-ups; why not make it a family affair and an opportunity to teach and grow together? Your children will squeal at the prospect of getting to work side-by-side with you, and when all is said and done, you can be proud together as a family!
1. Painting. Sure, it might get a little messy if your children are younger, but adding a fresh coat of paint will really help them feel like they are part of the program! Take them to the paint store and show them samples while asking for their all important input. When the project is complete, they will beam with a sense of accomplishment and brag about what great helpers they were to you! Be fully prepared with rags, drop-clothes and cleaner.
2. Gardening and landscaping. Planting trees and flowers is something even your youngest children can be a part of. Watching them watch the amazing growth of nature will be a reward in itself and your home will have added beauty and value. Name trees after each kid and put them in charge of watering it and monitoring for infestations or disease. If you've got the space, plan a garden that will put delicious organic food on the table.
3. Building a tree or play house. This may sound like a monstrous project, however, you can buy pre-fab kits to simplify the process and cut down on the amount of time involved. Pick an appropriate spot to build and show the children blue-prints and the list of needed items. Such a project can develop planning and organization skills along the way, and they will obviously have ample opportunity to enjoy the benefits of all their hard work!
4. Adding solar lights to the yard. This is such a simple and inexpensive way to add a touch of functional elegance, it can be done in just a couple of hours. Plan ahead where the fixtures should be placed and take the kids with you when you pick them out. Involve them in the thinking process that goes into deciding the best locations, and be sure to take them out after dark so they can fully appreciate their practical and attractive work.
5. Create a stunning mailbox ensemble. Not only can your children help decorate or even build a unique and clever mailbox, they could help plan and design the space around it. A flower-bed or stone garden as a base will look wonderful and be fun to make. Let them select colors or the theme and enjoy the process of improving the look and signature of the property.
6. Forge a new path. Replacing a decaying cement walkway with beautiful granite stones will add value and eye-appeal to the outside of your home. Get your kids involved right from the planning stage where they can see the intended layout and visualize the end result. Make it their responsibility to keep the new path clear from debris, leaves and snow to increase pride in their accomplishment and teach the importance of protecting and maintaining the investment.
Try these and other ideas to spruce up your home while working together as a family; it'll make all projects more fun and the experience will be invaluable to your children.
