DIY home repairs have been all the rage in Europe for the last decade. Prior to that, home repairs were considered a necessary evil that we did because we had to. But now it has become a hobby. For some it’s even a passion. If you’re one of those people who love DIY, how do pass your interest on to your kids? Try getting them involved with packing boxes.

Ellen was a mother of three small children, all of whom loved to be creative. One of her daughters wanted a Victorian doll house, but Ellen and her husband couldn’t afford it. So they collected some old cardboard boxes stored in the basement and set about teaching their daughter how to build one.

They first downloaded some free home design software for the computer. They set it up and unleashed their daughter to design her house just the way she wanted. Reducing the finished product to scale, they printed out plans and set to building it as detailed as possible. Using cardboard, modelling clay, toothpicks, poster paint, magazine pictures, and a host of other items, the two ladies made a masterpiece.

The project was so successful the young girl then took great interest in how her real house was built. She started asking questions and reading books. She offered to help whenever a home repair project came up. She sat endlessly at the computer designing home after home. All because her mother helped her build a doll house from cheap moving boxes.

There’s no guarantee that your child would react the same way, but give it a try. At the very least you’ll end up being able to spend time with the kids while creating a pretty good project. With any luck, it will light a DIY fire.