When your kids are little, getting them to help you clean around the home might be easy, especially as they are eward focused and often enjoy mimicking what their parents are doing. But as your kids get older, this can become a lot more challenging.
So, what can you do to get your teenagers to help keep your home clean?
Set them tasks which are realistic:
Asking a teenager to clean your home from top to bottom is only ever going to result in disappointment, or even arguments. Instead, choose one or two tasks that you think they’ll be capable (and willing) to complete to a reasonable standard, and be sure to thank them once they’ve finished.
Be willing to negotiate:
Most teenagers want to be treated as young adults, not as little kids, so while it’s important they understand that you make the rules, you also need to be fair and open to negotiation if they express a reasonable objection to any of the cleaning tasks you’re expecting them to complete.
Give clear instructions:
A teenager is quite likely to interpret a vague cleaning instruction that you’ve given them (such as ‘clean your room’) in a way that suits them, and go on to complete tasks with minimal effort and in the quickest time possible. Try to be specific when assigning cleaning tasks to your teen, and don’t give them the opportunity to scrimp on the standard.
Set a good example:
There is no way that your teenagers will take cleaning seriously if you don’t set them a good example and clean properly, yourself. Set a good example by ensuring that your own chores have been completed to a reasonable standard before you expect your kids to fulfil their end of the bargain.
Every action must have a consequence:
How you choose to punish your teenager when they don’t fulfil the cleaning tasks that you’ve set for them (and of course, physical violence is not acceptable) is up to you, but there must be consequences if they don’t do as they’ve been asked, otherwise they’ll choose to see cleaning as something that is optional.
Your children are your creation, no matter how annoying or obstinate they may be, so try to be patient when getting them involved with cleaning. However, if all else fails and you simply can’t rely on them, just call in the professionals and have them get your home cleaned properly and to a high standard.
