Renovating your home can be extremely stressful at the best of times. Throw young children into the mix and you’ve got a potential nightmare. Running around, wanting to touch wet paint and play with sharp tools, walking over freshly stained floors. I repeat…nightmare!
Yet, some super parents do manage it. If you’ve got your sights set on a home renovation and are wondering how to navigate your kids during this time, read on…
If you’re leaving it to the professionals
If you’re calling in the professionals to take care of your home renovation, you’ll have a much easier time. The main challenge here will be living through the renovation and not letting it disrupt your life too much.
This will involve communicating with your contractors as well as managing yourselves. For example, letting them know when your child’s naptime is can help them schedule noisier activities outside of these hours. It is better if the room they are working in can be sealed off to stop young kids from wandering in and to prevent dust and fumes from becoming an issue.
If you’re DIYing
If you’re taking on the home renovation yourself, you’ve got a lot on your plate. You have to juggle your home improvement tasks, looking after the kids, and yourselves. Here are some quick tips on how to get through this:
Tackle one room at a time
So that your entire house isn’t a mess at once, you should take it one room at a time. Decide which room you’re starting with and work on it until it’s done, then move onto the next room. This will make managing your kids easier and you can still live a relatively normal life outside of that room.
And one person at a time
When the kids are in the house with you, you’ll probably have to become a tag team. One of you can be in charge of the kids while the other works on the renovations. This means that the work doesn’t have to stop because of the kids.
Clear the room first
When you start on a room, you need to make sure there is enough space for you to do your work. Furniture left in the room will get covered in paint and dust, so it’s best to remove it completely. Rather than piling everything into another room and taking up all your space, you can put your furniture into storage with STORED until you’re ready to move it back in.
Keep the kids entertained and out of the way
While work is going on, you should try to keep the kids out of the way. Reserving a play room just for them can keep them occupied while you work and stop them from getting hurt. If an auntie or grandparent can take them out for the day occasionally, this will allow you to get as much done as possible while they’re gone.
Take time off from renovating
Don’t forget to take some time off, both for yourself and to spend time with the kids. They won’t be happy if they’re side-lined for the duration of your project. Take one day a week for a family day out together. It will help your sanity to get out of the house and away from your renovation for a while, too. Make sure you’re looking after yourself, too.
If you’re looking for ways to keep your kids entertained for the day or to get out of the house together, there is plenty to do in London. There are free days out like Hackney City Farm or the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Or you can buy tickets for the Sea Life Centre or London Zoo.
Make sure you’re fully prepared for a home renovation with kids around and know to expect the unexpected.
