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Children have an innate desire to help. When there’s work to be done at home, they’re often eager to contribute. While we offer a comprehensive guide to age-appropriate chores, kids also enjoy participating in occasional DIY home improvement tasks. Below are some simple home maintenance projects your children can handle with little supervision.
Designate Them as the Family 'Safety Officer'
Children can assist with essential safety tasks that are both important and easy to manage. Those who can read can verify the status of your fire extinguisher to ensure it’s functional and current. They can also help test and replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Additionally, if you have emergency kits stocked with food and water, kids can check expiration dates and ensure batteries are available and charged. They can also help organize candles and other supplies.
Allow them to silence squeaks and creaks
Provide children with a piece of beeswax and demonstrate how to apply it to noisy hinges or floorboards. Then, let them explore the house to find and fix creaks. This activity is both simple and enjoyable for kids, and since beeswax is safe and non-toxic, it’s suitable for all ages. They can also use it to maintain and protect kid-friendly yard tools like shovels and trowels, though closer supervision is recommended for these items.
Enlist their help in hanging artwork or decorations
Children are drawn to things that light up or make noise (just like adults), making them perfect for tasks like finding wall studs to hang pictures. Hand them a stud-finder and let them locate the studs. While younger kids may not handle the hammering, older ones can assist with this step. They can also help clean the wall, prepare the surface, and place temporary hooks if you prefer to avoid drilling holes.
Task them with lubricating locks and knobs
Modern pencil lead is typically made from graphite, which happens to be a fantastic lubricant for metal surfaces. Hand a child a pencil and let them rub it on your lock keys, then turn the locks a few times. This is a safe and enjoyable way to keep locks from sticking. You can also apply this method to sticky metal latches and handles by rubbing pencil lead on them and turning the knobs several times.
Assign them the job of identifying burnt-out bulbs
Send kids around the house, both indoors and outdoors, to check for non-functioning lightbulbs. They can test each switch and activate motion sensors. If they’re old enough, they can assist in replacing bulbs, but younger children should avoid exposed sockets. Have them document the replaced bulbs and the dates for future reference.
