Undertaking a home renovation is amongst one of life’s most stressful endeavors. It’s often said that it ranks, in terms of stress levels, along with births, deaths and divorces.
Committing to a renovation is one thing, but doing so www.mycaal.com with small children in tow, is often a point of contention for most families.
However, in some cases, it just has to be done for safety reasons, and in this Save for Kids website blog, we’re going to provide you with the tips you need to ensure that your home renovation is safe for adult and child.
Keep It Real
Of course, in some rare instances, some may be able to afford to pack themselves and the kids off on an expensive holiday while renovations take place.
But nine times out of ten, this just isn’t realistic.
Remember that just because their surroundings are changing, their daily routines will not, and it’s of vital importance that you factor this into your timeline.
Children and building sites don’t go hand-in-hand, and there are some circumstances where they shouldn’t be around while certain works take place – think exposed electrics etc.
However, during the bulk of the renovation, the children will be around, and they’ll need to be dropped off and picked up from school and have their bedtime stories.
Safe Zones
Some areas during a renovation should remain child-free – if the workmen are pulling up floorboards or knocking down a wall, the potential for accidents is nearly endless.
Toddlers and older babies are curious by nature, and telling them not to do something, often results in them doing just that. But once a room becomes a no-go area, it’s vitally important that the children are told precisely why popping in and out of this area is prohibited.
During the renovation more and more areas of the house will become unsafe at different points, so creating safe zones give the kids somewhere to play safely and freely.
It’s also important to create safe zones for yourself. Renovations create stress. This stress can translate into trouble relaxing and sleeping. By creating an area where you can chill out with a book or a glass of wine, helps to relieve stress and refocuses on the next challenge.
The Importance of the Right Tradesmen
It’s crucial to choose the right tradespeople, not just for the job at hand, but also because their professionalism must be spot on when there are kids around.
The workers must be informed upfront about the presence of children, and most will be fine with it – a good portion of them will have their own little ones, and many will complete jobs where children are present anyway.
A good tradesperson will understand that their work areas must remain clean and tidy and their language must reflect the fact that young ones might well be around to overhear it.
Ask Family & Friends For Help
Obviously, just because you’ve decided to renovate it doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to ask family and friends to babysit all hours of the day, but if you’re lucky enough to have a solid foundation of supportive family and friends, they’ll happy to watch the kids from time-to-time.
This is quite important if you have younger pre-school children, when potentially more hazardous work needs to be undertaken, such a re-wiring or removing old floorboards, which can’t be arranged around pre-school times.
Ensure Materials Are Stored Away
Kids love to play around with things that aren’t meant for them – a tin of open paint will be like a magnet; they just can’t help themselves.
During a renovation, they’ll be plenty of chemicals, paints and power tools in use. It’s really important that these are tidied away when the workmen are away doing other things or have gone home at the end of the day.
Takeaways
Any renovations are tough; they can strain relationships and cause a tremendous amount of stress. Doing a home makeover with kids means you can probably double that stress.
However, it’s incredibly important that you stick to together to ensure the children maintain their routines and remain safe at all times.
