Getting kids to help around the house can be a real struggle, but it can also be a great way to bond and teach life skills—and you might be surprised at how helpful they can be, with a little practice. Here are a few ideas to help you have fun, stay safe, and teach kids a love of work.
Start early with age-appropriate tasksThe following University of Minnesota study shows that kids who start helping out the family at age 3 or 4 reap big benefits in their later lives. While smaller children don’t have the motor skills or attention span for some projects, they’re eager to help and easy to please. Young children can water plants, use a trowel, tidy up messes, or even help you paint an undercoat with supervision. These early years are the best time to teach that working together as a family can be fun.
Let them do the fun stuff, even if they’re not very good at itDriving nails, smashing walls, and working with power tools can be a lot of fun, and for older kids, giving them the demolition jobs can make working together a treat. Of course, gauge your child’s maturity and give careful instructions first—but once you find the jobs they enjoy, they’ll jump at the chance to do them again.Taking some time to learn what your kid loves to do can really pay off. Organized, methodical kids might like to help you mount the new TV or check your work with a bubble level, while active, physical kids will love swinging a hammer, breaking things down, etc. When I was a kid, I’d go for any job where I got to do some damage; but every kid is different. If you let them try on a few projects, it shouldn’t take long to find out what they’re into.
Keep deadlines flexibleYour first few projects with your kids are bound to be a learning experience, so make plenty of time for teaching, fixing mistakes, and do-overs. DIY projects involve tactile skills and know-how that grown-ups take for granted, which means you should expect spills, bent nails, and stripped screws for a while. Depending on how often you do DIY projects, skill and muscle memory might take a while to develop, but kids can be surprisingly capable, given time. Start with projects that are low-risk, out-of-sight, and long-term, so that both of you can focus on safety and relax.
Take notice of progress, and let your kids do more when they’re readyLike any newbie, your kid might be more hindrance than help at first—but you’ll be surprised at how quickly that can change. As your kids grow more capable and comfortable, be sure to notice, and give them new responsibilities to match. Small tasks like painting or using a level can progress to helping assemble a bookshelf, swapping out air filters, or changing oil. The first time you hand your teenager a power tool will probably be a little scary, but you can’t teach safety or proper technique without it.
Stick with simple, repetitive tasksKids like to help out, but most don’t have the attention span to sit still and wait for instructions. Keeping young children busy with small, simple tasks is a great way to keep them involved without overwhelming. Jobs like painting and gardening are a good option for kids—they’ll have plenty to do, and they can get proficient fairly quickly. Cleanup, raking, bagging, and sweeping are also good jobs for younger kids.
Katie White is a writer and handywoman from DIY Mother who is passionate about self-reliance and conservation. She takes pride in making her home a more sustainable and comfortable place for her husband and two kids. She lives in Dallas.