By James Rubin

Kids and construction projects may seem an ill-fated match. But they go together as well as a hammer and nail.

Ask Patrick and Lynette Clark.

Six years ago the Santa Barbara area couple decided to involve their three children, Brian, 12, Tristan, 10, and Michelle, 10, as they replaced an old patio with a master suite and family room. The couple had decided to do most of the work themselves and figured they could proceed best if their children were active participants, not bored bystanders.

Choosing the right projects is crucial in getting kids involved. Photo courtesy of Bondo.

Four months later, the Clarks' remodel ended on schedule thanks in part to their children, who handled a range of tasks. Now the Clarks recommend the total family approach to anyone facing a major remodel, or less complicated work. "Our children learned the value of doing something yourself," says Lynette.

Choosing Good Projects
Moreover, getting them involved was easy. The Clarks and other families say that child participation in remodeling requires a realistic appraisal of what youngsters can do safely, patience to teach them proper technique and a watchful eye to head off trouble.

Of course, as the Clarks discovered, extra hands help speed a project along. But a team effort also helps forge stronger bonds between family members, and enables children to learn valuable, lifelong skills and respect for their homes - something often taken for granted.

One more bonus: Remodeling projects are a good way to fight inactivity, no small step when better than one in five children under 18 in this country battle a weight problem. Hammering, sawing, carrying loads and climbing into awkward spaces can have anyone breaking a sweat.

Michelle Clark, 10, tackles a roofing project. Her dad attached her to a safety harness.

The How-To's of Involving Kids
Below you'll find a few tips for spurring your child's participation without risking their safety.

• Lose your fear. Sure kids lose concentration, make mistakes and keep messy rooms. But that doesn't mean they're hell-bent on sabotaging your project. Indeed, their success depends on how well you train them. Make sure your instructions are clear and that they understand that while remodeling can be fun, it's not an opportunity for goofing off. Once they've started a task, shun the micro-management approach. A few well-targeted comments are far more likely to bring results than a steady stream of instructions that may only serve to undermine a child's confidence.
• Be safe. Proper safety equipment and techniques are a must. Don't be careless about either, lest you wind up with an unwanted trip to the emergency room and a traumatized child.
• Build a connection. Sanding a few boards is fine. But children relate best to a project when they're participating at all levels. The Clarks' sons sat in on the planning stages. By the time work began, they fully understood what their parents were up to and why.
• Don't overwhelm them. Want to guarantee disaster? Start your kids with something complicated and difficult. They'll grow discouraged and you'll spend more time correcting them than advancing your work. Patrick Clark started his sons with something they couldn't wreck: demolition of part of the old patio's walls. Later the Clark kids enjoyed painting the interior and hammering plywood sheets to the roof while wearing a harness that Paul had rigged to ensure their safety.
• Give them a break. Midway through their project, the Clarks took a vacation. Later on, they registered their children in a karate class. The time away from the construction gave the children a new burst of energy, made them more eager to help out.
• Stay low-key. Give your kids a guilt trip for not helping out and you can be sure they'll head in the opposite direction the next time you ask them for help.

Tristan Clark pounds away. His parents advise that you pick easily accomplished tasks.