Remodeling With a Toddler

I have alot of people ask me regularly how I do as much as I do with a two-year-old in the house.  I thought I'd type up a few short lines to fill you in on my "tips and tricks".  They're nothing fancy or groundbreaking, but they sure do work for us!

1.  Prep prep prep!  This is something that can be done while your little one is awake and running around.  I literally plan out every step of my project (down to the hour, often) to make sure that once he lays down for a nap or goes to bed I know exactly what I'm going to do, and I'm ready to jump in and do it.  This includes making sure you eat lunch when your child does and you go to the bathroom before you put them down for a nap.  Now nothing is in your way and you can conquer the world your latest remodel.

2.  Gather supplies.  For all of the projects I have been working on lately, I have everything I need on hand already.  I get all of my "gear" together and put it in one place near my worksite.  If there is something I need to complete my project that I don't have, we head out early in the morning when he's in his best mood and get everything that is needed.  If you have prep prep prepped well, your list should be complete allowing you to only make one trip.

3.  Teach your child to help.  I'm not kidding.  Even a toddler can learn to do this, and honestly, most of them love to be helpers.  Now, while I don't let Little Man use the power tools, I do let him help me measure, take down notes, and run his little electric sweeper (which also gives me clean floors).  Quite often I also let him help me gather my supplies, too, as long as they're not sharp or breakable. 

4.  Teach your child the all-important phrase, "Don't Touch!" and then that they need to obey it.    It's gotten to the point in our house that every time I stand on a chair (which is frequent since I'm rather short) Little Man says, "Mommy's painting.  No touch."

5.  Give birth to a child that will entertain himself for hours on end.  Not that you really have a choice in this matter, but my little one will sit in the den with books, blocks, and tractors, and it might be an hour or two before I hear from him.  So very very much can be accomplished in this time frame.  It's rather amazing. 

Well, folks, that's how I do it.  Nothing money-making about these ideas (and certainly nothing new), but they are definitely worth-while.  I'm still working on that super awesome project I hinted at yesterday, and I can't wait to show you a finished project!