Interior wall hole repair ideas

If you look closer I think you will find that you kids were really not at fault!

The way that wallpaper ripped is usually because the wood behind it has rotted. And any type of pressure would have caused the wallpaper to rip apart just like that.

I had 2 spots around my window that looked exactly like your picture. Rotted wood behind it due to leak. Might be a good thing they pushed on it. You should look for a leak in that area first before you replace the wood and patch the paper.

Thanks for all the ideas so far. I think I omitted an important piece of info, in that the bunk lifts up from underneath to convert it to a storage area accessed from an exterior door so the mattress platform swings right past this area. It is a very handy feature, but would require the repair to be more or less flush so that it doesn't interfere. I suppose I could shave the plywood supporting the mattress if need be. I can't really convert it to a photo board or anything since it is the headboard area of the lower bunk where you would normally put your pillows when sleeping. I'm leaning towards using the plastic strip idea at this point, and if it doesn't last might have to replace that panel.

I put my finger into the hole to root around a bit, and it did not seem like it was grungy in there like I think a water leak would be. Also, I can access the base of that same wall from the aforementioned storage area, and there are no indications of water damage on the floor/wall joint. I think it was a strong kick that did it.

The corporal punishment was a bit of a joke, as one of the kids was not mine, so much as I would have preferred to mete that punishment I held back and expressed my dismay only to my kid. I did not want to obligate the parents of the other kid to think they needed to do something to help with the repair (we're all friends) so it's just a thing. I basically realized later that the repair was more tricky than I thought, hence this post.

Heymon wrote:
PS The kids were appropriately punished with a resurrection of 1960's style corporal punishment.

That's not right, this is the 21st century. Use a Taser next time. :B

wrong reaction in my opinion. If the kids were just being kids and roughhousing and inadvertently kicked out and busted a very weak wall, no biggy. We had twin boys who were very active and wrestled each other and ran into walls, we liked to see them as healthy young boys, having fun (usually) and being active instead of sitting around doing nothing. A bedroom door at home had a big dent where a head knocked it in, we thought it was cool and just left it. There were also dents in the drywall. As for the damage, I would cover the break with a piece of panelling or a license plate,or some other suvienier. Every time you see the repair you'll think of your kids and what you all were doing at the time. These kind of things can make good memories.

Even had a dent in the side of an aluminum TT from a wiffle ball that went the wrong way. Good for a laugh. I was pitching so part my fault. But the important thing was, we were having fun camping!!!

You may have missed my other post, LVJJJ, but just to clarify I did not actually spank my son (and certainly not his friend!) I was joking. 11 is a bit old for that. I did have him sit outside the trailer for a few minutes, because he should have known better. That bed was already made for the night, and he knows he should not have been on it especially with shoes. No fun to climb into a dirty bed, so that is the rule.

I am a very mellow guy, and fully understand that it is not worth ruining a trip to go ballistic or anything. That is why my son's friend's parents never found out there was any trouble, because they would have felt bad and nothing they could do to fix anything anyway, so what would have been the point of that? However, we do have a small number of rules to follow while camping, just for safety and sanity. I don't think shrugging off damage caused by carelessness will do anything except possibly increase damage producing incidents, because then there is no consequence for poor judgment in a situation where he should have known better. He knew he blew it because he initially tried to cover it up with a pillow.

We all had fun that weekend overall, but this should have been avoided if simple rules were followed. If this was something unforeseeable, of course there would be no punishment and we'd just chalk it up to a learning experience.

Your suggestion for the repair is a good one for most interior walls, but for this particular location anyone who sleeps there will have their head or face around that area so I have to be conscious of that.

Where is the corner? Kids bunk area I would just apply some forgetaboutit.
Possible just hang a decorative item over it. Or some duct tape.
Anyway take your time and think about it.

Get one of those decals, maybe sports related, of his favorite sports star. He will then worship that spot on the wall rather than kicking it. I don't advise on parenting, everyone has their own way. I think you handled it well, FWIW.