Older children helping with decoration?

[PareyMortas]

I have three dc's aged between ten and fourteen, we are about to start lots of decoration is it realistic to think the dc's could/would/should help? Most rooms need removal of woodchip so a good chance we'll have some replastering to be done (by a plasterer) and then painting.

I feel they're old enough to help but not sure if I'm being realistic.

How do they feel about it?

My 12 year old helped me paint the whole house, we did a room each Saturday until we had done every room. I was very impressed with his skills.

Absolutely - yes.
Encourage them to help with all of it.
The only reason I am now able to decorate our home is thanks to my Dad encouraging all 6 of his children to get stuck in and help.
DH, on the other hand, doesn't have a clue about DIY as he had parents who never did any - they just paid someone to come in and do it.
When your DC are adults, they'll thank you.

Yup. My 18 and 13 yos have helped since they were about 11. :) You do have to accept lower standards than your own though! Start them off with painting their own rooms, where they're most motivated to do a good job, and where mistakes matter less!

Be realistic about the amount of supervision they'll need. And how will you react if a bit of panit ends up where it shouldnt?

Of course they should help, getting the dreaded wood chip off will be hardwork. Get the older one going on the steamer, younger ones on scraping and picking up duty. I would never allow mine to paint though, I'm a bit of a perfectionist and would prefer to do that myself. The older one could also be given the job of filling and they could all help with sanding down.

I remember starting when I was 6 with my bucket from the beach full of water, a sponge and a scraper helping to get the paper off the walls in the sitting room. However, it was before the dreaded woodchip took over the world.

The woodchip will be easier to remove if you score the surface first so that the steam can penetrate before trying to scrape it off. Otherwise you end up chipping it off in little pieces.

I decorated my bedroom with no help at the sge of 11 or 12. Yellow with red woodwork. Very early 80s .

yes, they should help I think. Dd aged 3.5 wanted her room painted pink. I got her to choose the colour, come to the shop to buy it and then help me paint. It took a lot of concentration to get her not to cover the whole house in it but I think she appreciates the end result more.

I love you Vipers.

Any ideas how to make it fun? Or is that unrealistic?

An element of competition? give them a wall each at a time and a prize for the most professional finish? let them choose the colour from a limited selection?