Need ideas to balance both home and kids? Me too! Looking for home maintenance projects to do with kids? Well, I finally found some. We are blessed to have 3 little girls – our oldest just turned 8 and our twins are 3 years old. Having young children fills our house with a lot of laughter and love.
But there is also a lot of noise and chaos.
It seems impossible to concentrate on any home projects with kids around. And I’m already struggling with the 5 Reasons We Don’t Finish DIY Projects!
I’ve realized that the only way that I’m able to get anything done is if I find projects that can include them. And so far, we have seen some success!
Below are home maintenance projects to do with kids that you can actually accomplish! Admittedly, some of them are traditional routine home improvement projects, while others focus a bit more on emergency preparedness. But these projects still result in preparing, organizing and improving your home.
Having your children tackle house projects with you does more than just crossing off items on your to-do list. Letting your children help around the house teaches them several valuable skills, including:
- Responsibility
- Sense of Accomplishment and Pride
- Physical activity
- Teamwork
5 Home Maintenance Projects To Do With Kids
1. Create a Home Inventory
A home inventory (a.k.a. an organized list of all the “stuff” in your home) is an essential part of emergency preparedness in your home. While there are many reasons why you need a home inventory, the biggest one is that it helps get insurance claims paid quickly and completely.
Yet research indicates that over 50% of American homeowners don’t have one.
Creating a home inventory is incredibly easy. It just takes a bit of time.
How can your kids help? Simply by taking pictures. Give them a camera and have them take pictures. Pictures of each wall, ceiling and floor of the house. Have them open and capture pictures of every drawer, closet and cabinet.
And, once they have completed the inside, send them outside to take photos of your home’s exterior – the backyard, patio, garage, and sheds. This will occupy your children for awhile ?.
Admittedly, your kids won’t capture everything. You will probably have to go back and take more pics. For example, pictures of appliance model numbers. But your kids will have done the majority of the work.
Once complete, upload pics to an online program (we use the free membership option to HomeZada). Wa-la! You are done! And now you will rest better knowing that you are better prepared for an emergency.
2. Map and Label Your Electrical Panel
Let’s face it, home maintenance is not sexy. And this task is one of the least sexiest chores EVER. But, it’s a part of being adequately prepared for and emergency, and it needs to be done. (Admittedly it took me 8 years into homeownership to finally accomplish).
Do yourself a favor. Just do it. Open up that electrical service panel hidden in the basement or the back of a closet, and map those circuits or fuses. It doesn’t take that long if you have help.
Your kids can assist in a few ways. As further outlined here, give them some graph paper and have them draw a house floor plan outlining all the rooms. Hold a scavenger hunt with the challenge of finding all the light switches and outlets in the house and mark them on the house floor plan.
And have them watch which lights are affected while you trip the circuit breakers. Let them yell or, better yet, use walkie talkies to communicate when a breaker is tripped. What kid doesn’t like walkie talkies?
Have some fun with it. Teach them some old school walkie-talkie lingo (aka “breaker, Breaker”, “over and out”) from your childhood. Mine loved it.
See? Even the tedious task of labeling an electrical panel just for a bit brighter ?.
Side note: I feel like this is obvious, but I’m going to say it anyways. Electricity is dangerous. Your kids shouldn’t touch your electric panel or any receptacles.
3. Design and Practice a Fire Escape Plan
In these uncertain times, I’ve been thinking a lot about emergency preparedness and safety. I’m sure you have been too.
Being holed up in the house is a great opportunity to talk household safety.
First, locate and test the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with your kids. Or just go ahead and change batteries if it’s been awhile.
Show your children the location of the fire extinguishers and check their gauges to make sure they aren’t empty.
Sit down with your kids to create and practice a home fire escape plan. I found great 5 amazing resources that helped us create our fire escape plan. In addition to valuable guidance for adults, these resources also have online games that engage younger audiences to learn about fire safety.
It’s important that once you create a fire escape plan that you practice it! Practice evacuating the house and meeting up at your designated meeting place. It’s an ideal way to get kids off the couch and moving.
Turn it into a fun activity. For example, use a timer and present an award to whomever gets out the house first while still demonstrating the best safety sense.
4. Paint a Room
With a bit of guidance and supervision, children of almost all ages can handle a paint brush or roller and can help paint a room.
Give them a wall that needs a first coat where they can let their creativity flow. A smiley face, a cow, whatever they want to paint. Then you can go back once their interest has waned and add that second, correct coat.
Or leave the ladders to adults and let the little ones the lower half of a wall up to about four feet.
The challenge is in the prepping. Just be sure to spread out a lot of drop cloths and paint tape to avoid paint splatters and drips!
5. Add Curb Appeal
Need to get out of the house? Spring is here (Thank God!) so each day brings longer days and warm weather.
If your kids are like mine, they already love to be outside and dig in the dirt. Take advantage of it, load them up with tools and tasks to cleanup the yard and add curb appeal to your home.
Here’s a few outdoor ideas to get your family moving and working outside:
- Pick up sticks and twigs
- Rake the yard
- Start a vegetable garden
- Plant a window box
- Spread out mulch
- Weed
- Fill bird feeders and bird baths
- Wash and (for teenagers, refresh) patio furniture
- Clean backyard swing sets, water table, and other outdoor toys
- Sweep sidewalks, porches, stairs, and driveways
Related Family-Friendly Posts
- How to Create a Wall-Mounted Space-Saving Diaper Organizer
- How to Childproof Houseplants (Pet-proof too!)
- 5 Best Resources to Help You Develop a Fire Escape Plan
- How to Spray Paint a Step2 Plastic Playhouse
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