When you think about life skills to pass on to your kids, home maintenance probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But it should be up there with learning to cook or managing money. And teaching your kids about home maintenance doesn’t have to feel like a boring chore.
Here are 3 easy tips to get you started.
Start With the Basics and Let Them Get Hands-On
The trick is not to overwhelm them. You don’t need to give your kids a full plumbing lecture. Instead, start small: show them how to change a lightbulb, tighten a loose screw, or check if the fridge door is sealing properly. Let them do it instead of just watching you do it.
When something around the house needs attention, use that as a teaching moment. Walk them through the signs that something’s off, like strange noises or loose handles. Even if you end up calling in a freezer repair service for a broken freezer, include them in the conversation. Let them see how you troubleshoot first and then figure out when it’s time to bring in a professional. That balance of DIY and knowing your limits is a great lesson in itself.
Make It a Regular Thing, Not a One-Off Lecture
Home maintenance isn’t a once-and-done kind of deal. The best way to help your kids really get it is to make it part of your family’s routine. Maybe every Sunday, you check smoke detectors together or clean out the dryer vent. Or you can assign one mini-task a week – like checking window locks or looking for leaky pipes under the sink.
You want it to feel normal, not like some weird grown-up thing they have to suffer through. Keep the tone light, toss in a few jokes, and let them ask “silly” questions. The more they see it as a regular part of life, the more confident they’ll be handling their own homes someday.
Tie It Back to Real-Life Independence
Kids love to feel capable. So, instead of making home maintenance seem like just another responsibility, link it to the idea of independence. Tell them, “When you have your own place, knowing how to do this means you won’t have to panic or waste money.”
Got a teen who’s always on their phone? Show them how to find trustworthy repair services or look up simple fixes on YouTube. Knowing how to do a little research is just as important as having the right tool. If they can figure out a basic repair video or learn how to unclog a drain, that’s a win.
Teaching your kids about home maintenance is really going to help them feel ready for the real world. And hey, if it means you have a little helper next time something breaks down, even better!
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