Time to Paint the House? Make it a Family Event Every so often the interior and exterior (if you live in a private home) of your home has to be painted. While it can be expensive to hire painters to do it, you can save a lot of money if you do it yourself with the help of your kids.

Children love to paint. I remember the art teacher at the middle school I worked at telling me how her students were in bliss when they painted. Having your child paint is:
 

• helpful because it teaches her valuable skills she’ll need later in life 

• a great way to spend time with your child.

•  an inexpensive way to allow your child to release the creativity within her.

Here are some tips for painting your home with your child.

1)      Be bold. Bright colors such as red, orange, and yellow are always hits with kids. Scientific studies have shown that bright colors affect people’s moods in a positive way.

2)      Pick a wall in or outside your home and paint a picture with your child. Sign your names underneath the artwork when you’re done. Make a picture of it to capture the moment. The memories of this activity will last a lifetime.

3)      Choose paint colors with your child. This will help your child feel connected to the painting process.

4)      Buy brushes which your child can manage. The younger your child is the smaller the brush should be. Demonstrate to your child how to paint on a small area at first.

5)      Supervise your child’s work. Stay in the same area as your child. As you finish one room go on to the next with her.  

6)      Experiment. Buy accessories such as macaroni, buttons, and packing filler. This will give you child the means necessary to stretch the limits of their creativity. They can use these items to create faces, houses, flowers, trees, birds, animals, or any other object that comes to mind.

7)     For added precision, outline the object your child wishes to paint onto the wall.