Family Fun: Quick Projects for the Whole Family

When you have kids, it can be hard to find time to take on all the household improvements you’ve put on hold. Many projects are dangerous, time-consuming, or just plain boring for kids. Nevertheless, there are options that can help you spruce up your space without sacrificing family time. Here are some quick home improvement ideas that the whole family can get in on.

Paint the mailbox. Let the kids get creative and help you personalize your mailbox. Or, if you don’t want to commit to a potential mess, let them design their own. Many mailboxes are relatively inexpensive, and play mailboxes can give your kids a special place to send and receive mail just like the grown-ups do.

Refresh your walls with a new coat of paint. Painting is a great project for the whole family because it’s easy, relatively safe, and fast. The next time you add a new coat, let the kids help out. Let little ones paint wall swatches to help you decide on a color. Bigger kids can help with the real work with guidance. If you’re not confident in your little ones’ painting skills, let them take on places that won’t be seen, such as the closet or portions of the walls that will be hidden by furniture.

Start a garden. Gardening lets your kids get dirty for a good reason. Whether you’re starting a full-blown flower bed in the yard or potting a few stand-alone blooms for the window, you have ample opportunity to get everybody involved. Get started by letting the kids help pick out plants. They can also help by decorating pots, digging holes for seeds, and watering. Letting them help from start to finish will teach them about nature and responsibility while adding a little beauty to your everyday.

Personalize your walkways. If you’re planning to spruce up your outdoor entryway, consider adding a personal touch with a family stepping stone. You can find kits for this family-friendly home improvement project online or at most art stores, but you can really make stepping stones with any weather-resistant materials, be they cobblestones or cement.

Make your patio one of a kind. Lots of patio furniture comes in plastic or unfinished cedar. Both materials are easy to decorate. Why not make one-of-a-kind furniture that fits your family’s taste? Decide on fun, new colors as a family, or maybe even let your kids decorate their own chairs. This doesn’t only have to happen outdoors. Consider letting the kids personalize their own indoor furniture, like step stools or chairs, to help them feel involved in your interior décor.

Often, the only way you can really get things done is to find a way to include or occupy the kids. These family projects let your family get in some quality time and check a few items off the to-do list at once. It’s a win-win!