Five Ways to Include Your Toddler in Your DIY Project
As a stay-at-home mom to a very busy toddler I’ve found I either need to do renovation projects while he is napping or find a way to creatively include him in what I’m doing. I’m not sure if it’s the same for everyone, but for me naptime is time that is at a high premium. Only projects that he absolutely can’t be involved with get done during naptime (think balancing the checkbook or anything where there’s a delete button to push). There’s never enough “naptime” during the day to get everything I’d like to get done without “help”, so I’ve found five ways to include him in my projects.
#1 Give Them an Important Job
Toddlers are naturally curious and want to model whatever mom or dad is doing. Nothing makes a toddler happier, than getting to help with something that’s important. If you’re ripping out sheetrock, give him a pair of glasses and a smaller size hammer to pound on the wall. If you’re measuring trim to cut, give him a pencil and a piece of scrap trim to mark on. You’ll get a lot more accomplished if your toddler feels like he’s an invaluable part of the team.
#2 Explain What the Tools are Called and What They Do
This may seem like a pointless waste of time, (why would a two-year-old care what the difference is between a crescent wrench and a pliers?), but it keeps them involved and interested in the project. And now when you’re holding up the vanity top with your chin and just can’t quite reach the crescent wrench you need it’ll be much less frustrating than playing 25 questions as they bring you all the tools but the one you need. Again, make them feel like a central part of the team.
#3 Involve Them in Things That May Seem “Too Hard”
Some of the best child rearing advice I ever received was that your children will be what you tell them they are. If you tell them they can’t lift that or that tool is only for adults to use, that’s what they’re going to believe. Obviously, you need to keep them safe because if you’ve been around toddlers for any length of time, you’ve come to understand the complete lack of fear they all magically possess.
Renovation projects are a great way to include your kids and to help them learn the proper way to cut something, or how to run a power drill while still “holding the reins” so they don’t cut a limb off. My son was desperate to help us install our vinyl plank flooring but it’s not really one of those “toddler” jobs. After many failed attempts at keeping him at bay he finally confiscated the rubber mallet and proceeded to help tap in each piece of flooring. He was beyond excited that his help was needed for each piece.
#4 Adjust Your Expectations
Most of my frustration during projects with my toddler stems from me having unrealistic expectations for what we’re going to accomplish that day. I get frustrated because it’s taking too long and proceed to take over “his part” of the project, which makes him cranky and naughty, which makes me more frustrated, etc. etc. etc. Put yourself in his shoes for a minute: my son is 100% convinced when we do projects that I could not possibly do this project without his help and that makes him try his hardest to actually be helpful. When you take his “job” away it removes his self-worth and he becomes a bored bystander (which usually leads to sabotage).
By managing your expectations and keeping projects short (think installing two pieces of flooring then coming back in a half hour to do two more instead of thinking you’re going to install flooring for 2 hours), it keeps them interested and looking forward to next time they get to help. Another aspect of managing expectations is your expectation of what your project area may look like. Giving them a small toy or book area where they can play without being in the way is a great way to include them without them being intimately involved in the project. Sometimes being close to mom or dad is just as good as actually helping with the project!
#5 Have Several Projects Going On At Once
I know this sounds counterintuitive, but I try to keep some sort of project going in several locations around the house. This way if we’re in the basement, my son can help with my sewing project, if we’re in the garage he can help sand trim, if we’re in the kitchen he can help clean out a cupboard. By keeping several projects going on at the same time you can change from one to another without losing their attention span, they still get to be near you and “help” with things, and you accomplish what you need to for the day while still making progress on your big projects too.
Including toddlers in your projects is definitely way more work than just doing it yourself, but it is so rewarding and can be a fun way to spend quality time with them. Keep your expectations appropriate to their attention span and keep them involved and you’ll have a happier and more helpful “helper”. Tell me your go-to ideas on how to include your toddler in your projects!
