Giving your home the makeover it deserves might be your dream come true, but when you have kids it is easy to postpone such projects for as long as possible. Just imagine, your little ones running around through all that mess, jumping over various tools, dust flying everywhere, bathrooms being out of function, deafening noise making you crazy… Seems like a scenario from hell, so why would someone voluntarily go through that? Well, while home renovation with kids around may sound dreadful, it actually doesn’t have to be so bad. Oh, there will be tears and fighting, but nothing you can’t survive and forget about the minute you see your new kitchen countertop or your new bathroom. If you are looking for a way to minimize the chaos and craziness during this home reno, here’s everything you need to know.
Prepare your kids
Before the heavy machinery comes rolling in, sit down with your kids and let them know what exactly they can expect. Tell them about all the mess and dust, and let them know how they will be affected and how their daily routine will change in the next couple of weeks or months. Also, show them pictures of how gorgeous your place will look once everything is done so they can be invested in the changes and have something to look forward to. If you are opting for some DIY projects, keep the kids involved as much as possible. For instance, your home might be too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer, which makes renovation an ideal time to install insulation. If you are planning to buy the insulation yourself, bring the kids with you and explain to them the purpose of this material. It will be a nice teaching moment and you will enjoy some bonding time.
Get tactical
If you are just going to paint one or two rooms, you can do that at any time of the year. However, if you are going to take on a larger project, summer is your best friend (maybe even spring if there aren’t many rainy days). During these months you can easily go on a vacation, temperatures are high so you can dine outdoors, rinsing after a pool can be considered a shower, and there are no major holidays that can prolong the duration of the renovation. If you are planning to redo the bathrooms, make sure you do not do them all at once. Leave at least one working bathroom. The same goes for rooms. Make sure there is one area left where you and your kids can get away from all that mess.
Safety first
If you have major work being done, make sure proper barricades are installed. In addition, keep the little ones away from any area where there will be fumes or where heavy machines will cut metal or concrete. If you can, organize sleepovers at your parents’ or let kids sleep at their friends’ houses. During the renovation, make sure that vents are blocked so your “safe space” is free from debris. In the end, when all the work is done, hire a professional cleaner before letting kids into their new space.
Keep your daily routine as much as possible
If your kids will stay with you during this entire process, make sure to maintain your standard routine as much as possible. That means getting up and going to bed at the same time as usual, and keeping other activities on their normal rotation. This way your kids will maintain a sense of normalcy.
Make things fun
You know how small children love drawing on everything that isn’t paper? Well, now is an ideal opportunity to let them draw all over the walls (those that will be demoed, of course). If your kids are older, consider letting them take a whack at the wall with a hammer. Keeping things fun for your children will make this time fly by. Renovations with kids around don’t have to be a living nightmare. Take things one step at a time, stick to your usual routine, put safety first and before you know it, you will be enjoying your clean, new space.
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