Having construction work done in your home disrupts your normal flow and can be dangerous. With pieces of equipment, ripped-up materials, stacks of old materials, or tools laying around, it can be hard to keep your kids away from these items and protect them from injury. In this blog, we will give some tips for safety for people of all ages during a remodeling project, how to keep your kids preoccupied while renovating, and how to get your project done on a short timeline. Renovating with kids doesn’t have to be impossible when you work with the right people.
Rosewood Painting and Remodel know that improving your home has to happen in the midst of your other life happenings. We work to complete projects in the shortest time possible and respect your space. Keeping your home and family safe is one of our ultimate goals.
1- Talk About The Reason Behind Your Renovations With Your Kids
Discussing the why of your remodel or DIY project with your kids will help them understand what will occur during the project and how long it will last. Clear communication is important when you are raising kids, so telling them about new people coming into the space, giving them an idea of what the home will look like when it’s done, and showing that is it ok to work hard for something you want, will all be good learning opportunities as well.
2- Consider The Time Of The Year
Renovating with kids often means that you will need to get out of the house occasionally or create a space in your home where they can play safely. During the winter or fall, this may make keeping your home warm a bit harder, or taking trips to the park more work than it is worth. If you are thinking about starting a DIY project or hiring a contractor, think about the weather and how it will affect your children’s mindset.
3- Clean Up Paint And Tools When You’re Done
Leaving materials and tools laying around can bed dangerous for children. If you are working on a remodel project yourself, make sure to clean up your workstation and other materials when you are done working for the day. If you are working with a company, make sure they know that little kids will be around, and ask what safety measures can be taken.
It may just take some extra work on your part as a parent to make sure kids don’t ingest paint, play with sharp equipment, or knock over equipment on top of them.
4- Let Children Help With Small Projects
Letting children paint on some primer, using a screwdriver to remove a screw, or helping sweep up some debris will help them feel involved.
Get some little tools, fake tools, or a small paintbrush and get them involved. Kids may not be very helpful, but it is worth it instead of fighting to keep them out of the construction zone.
5- Communicate With Your Contractor
As mentioned above, if you are going to have external people working in your home, telling them before any demo work, or large-scale jobs about your kids can make things a lot easier. While it is not the construction worker’s job to watch your kids, having a heads-up will prevent any surprises.
6- Take A Family Outing To Escape The Remodel
Disrupting the routine is a large part of renovating with kids and may set them into a rebellious or angry mood. When the weather is good, taking your kids to the park, the pool, or on a bike ride can be a good escape from the chaos.
If you are doing DIY projects in your home, carving out time to spend as a family is important during a stressful time. Take time to go out to dinner, spend a Saturday at the museum, or take a trip or staycation while some projects are taking place. Renovating and remodeling are expensive, but getting the kids out of the house doesn’t have to be expensive. Ask neighbors or friends to watch the kids for an hour or two.
7- Buy Special Toys Just For The Remodel Stage
Take the kids to the thrift store and pick out a special toy or book that they can use during the remodeling timeline. Not only does this get you out of the construction zone, but it gives the kids something to look forward to when many of their other toys are stored away.
8- Shut Off The Reno Space With A Door Or Plastic Sheeting
If possible, keep the renovation space blocked off from your kids. Tell them not to enter the space, keep the door shut when you are not working, or cover an opening with plastic sheeting and caution tape. Renovating with kids will require some extra safety steps.
9- Come To Terms With Living In A Mess
Living in a construction zone will be overwhelming, so coming to terms with this and helping to keep your kids calm will help improve everyone’s mental state. Renovating with kids may make the amount of mess even more overwhelming. Living in a mess can make it hard to function as a family, but everyone can do their part to help clean, keep materials from taking over personal space and keep a clear head in times of stress.
Your children will pick up on your frustration and stress and mimic it. Try your best to decompress and keep the home calm despite the construction mess.
Trust Your Remodel To Rosewood
Rosewood Painting And Remodel wants to improve the value and appearance of your home. Our team wants to work with homes and businesses across Utah and help them have updated spaces and better home functionality. Contact our team to start your next home project!
