5 Tips for DIY Renovating with Kids

We started our first live-in renovation when our eldest son was 6 months old. Since then, every DIY reno we have done has been with one or two young boys in tow, and we've just started project number 9 with our now 4 and 6 year old boys.

We often get asked how we do it with them around, especially the jobs that we both need or want to be involved in; where we can't or don't want to divide and conquer. We both like to be on the tools, so while there are a lot of tips about living through or in a renovation with kids, we thought it may be helpful to give our tips of how we cope with DIY renovating around the kids - with both of us doing the work!

1. Involve them as much as possible.

In the planning, decision making + doing!

There are so many smaller jobs that kids are capable of doing depending on their age. Whether it's side by side or more independently, ours absolutely love being given a task and asking questions along the way about why we're doing things. 

We often find that they're keen to help for a bit, then get tired of it and head off to play and let us finish. This is way more effective than if we were to tell them to play from the beginning.

If we've involved them in the planning discussions around a project, they tend to be even more eager to help. For example, painting a sample patch on a wall and then seeking their opinion about their favourites has meant that when we go to paint the wall, they're keen to see it done and leave us to it.

2. Accept that a job may go a bit slower + enjoy the process + time together. 

This is obviously easier said than done, but we have found a shift of expectations can be so helpful when it comes to doing jobs with the kids around.

Does it really matter if it takes you an extra 30 seconds to shift that bit of timber because a little person has the other end?

Would it take that much longer to explain what you're doing to the young friend eagerly watching your every move?

We are both very efficient and practical people, so it has been challenging at times to take things a little slower. We have to remind each other whenever needed that these teachable moments and time spent together is actually precious. Our kids will learn so much from doing these things with us, and have so many fond memories of it too.

3. Set up secondary tasks.

If we're doing something that they can't help with, we often set up little sub tasks for them to do nearby so they feel part of it. Things like hammering timber off cuts together, mud painting or digging holes works well. We may need to pause what we're doing at brief intervals to keep their task on track, but they tend to take charge of their own project alongside us, enjoying just being together!

4. Teach them tool safety from a young age.

Safety is obviously top priority so it's essential from the very beginning to take the time to teach kids about tools. We have taken the approach of honesty with our boys; this tool is called this and does this and can hurt you in this way.

We have completely off-limit tools like saws that they're not allowed to touch. We have tools they can use under supervision like drills that we've taught them to use properly. And we have tools they can use independently without asking like hammers, rulers and screwdrivers. We have set up rules with 'no chances' policies, but have found that by guiding their natural curiosity we have taught them to be around tools in a safe and respectful way and avoided accidents.

5. Divide + conquer

Sometimes, it's just not safe or practical for the kids to be around when we're renovating. When that's the case, it's time to outsource the parenting to their grandparents or wait until they're at school/care - which for us has only ever been a day or two a week.

Planning our tasks around the time when they're not home has often meant some scheduling problem solving like working on the weekends or doing one particular job before another. Other times, it just means one of us parents and takes them out while the other renovates.

Ultimately, the balance and capabilities are going to look slightly different for every family. But we want to encourage you to give it a go and don't let kids hold you back from that DIY project!