Over time, the tiny house revolution has grown, and an increasing number of families are choosing to find smaller dwellings to cut down on costs and live more sustainable lives. However, some families may not have joined the tiny house bandwagon because they have several kids and do not think tiny homes will meet their space needs.
While it may not always be easy, there are ways to create fun spaces and lasting memories in a tiny home, and these tips are a great starting point.
Designing A Tiny Home With Kids
If you have a hand in designing your tiny home, then there are some considerations to consider as you build. When living tiny with a family, one space to pay particular attention to is the kitchen counter. This will likely become a space where you work with the kids on their homework, play board games, and enjoy family dinners. Make sure there is space for everyone to fit around comfortably. If possible, you may be able to construct a counter that can fold up against a wall.
Another space where you and the kids can spend time and bond is in an upstairs loft. This would be a place that is out of the way but still comfortable enough to be together as a family. You can bring a laptop or tablet up there, watch educational shows or films, and have a great time.
There’s only so much you can fit into a tiny home, but the good news is that these spaces will evolve as the years pass and your kids grow. What may now be a playroom can eventually turn into your office. In the meantime, a smaller space allows you to teach your children lessons, like how to tidy up a shared bathroom, clean up after themselves in the family room, and live with less.
Spend Time Outside
The great thing about having a tiny home is that you can enjoy more of the world outdoors, and there’s a lot of fun to be had there with your family.
It’s important to take the opportunity to unplug and get away from screens and electronic devices. One fun idea is to put out a fire pit or invest in a hot tub. It’s a great way to have somewhere to gather as a family and talk and relax. You can also keep the kids entertained and make new memories with them by setting out fun activities. That could be as simple as putting out a portable basketball hoop, setting up a badminton net, or making a horseshoe pit. Set up chairs around the area so everyone can get in on the fun.
Spend more time together as a unit and you get a chance to bond. Plus, when your kids play around in the yard, they’ll also exercise more than they would when hanging out inside.
Prioritize Education
There are also educational benefits to being outside. During the daytime, you can have fun as a family and learn about sustainability by planting a garden. It doesn’t need to be large. Even a container garden provides multiple benefits. One is that you can grow food that you can use for your meals. Gardening also has great mental health perks. There’s nothing quite as fulfilling as watching a seed grow into a full-scale plant, and it’s something your kids won’t soon forget.
The fun doesn’t have to end when night falls. You can also have a blast looking at the sky and stargazing. If your kids have an interest in astronomy, you can help them enjoy the science by getting a star chart that will show them where to look to find the Big Dipper and other notable sights. You can also invest in equipment, like a telescope or binoculars, to get an up-close look. Your kids can journal and refer to their findings as they continue their stargazing journey through the years.
Tips For Toys
While you’ll likely want to do everything possible with your kids, the limits of a tiny house may restrict how many toys, leisure items, and pieces of sports equipment you can fit, so you’ll need to have a strategy. If you’re moving from a larger house to a tiny dwelling, you’ll need a strategy for downsizing. Look for toys your kids no longer use and donate them so other children can experience the same joy.
Continue to follow a similar strategy as your kids get older. Before your children buy any new toy or piece of equipment and fill the house, make it a rule that they have to sell or donate one item they no longer want so they don’t fill your tiny home with unnecessary items but still have what they like.
Another potential option to consider is using a storage shed. If you plan to stay in one spot, you can get a permanent structure to supplement your home. If not, many sheds can be built and torn down rather easily, so you can set them up when necessary. Use them to store items you only use occasionally so you have more room inside your house.
Conclusion
It’s vital that you spend quality time with your kids regardless of the size of your dwelling. Use these tips to build the perfect tiny home environment and create memories you’ll cherish for years to come.
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