Whether your kids are part of the reason that you have such an untidy home, or it’s the adult role models of the household who are setting a dirty example, nobody wants a home that isn’t at least tidy, if it can’t be clean.
Now most kids of all ages won’t volunteer themselves for household cleaning chores, or even offer to put their toys or books away after they’ve finished with them, but there are ways to encourage them to do so, even if it may never come instinctively or willingly, to them!
- Get them involved right from the get go:
Start ‘em young! The sooner you can encourage your kids to tidy up after themselves or even lend a hand when you’re cleaning, the better. It will quickly become a routine for them, and they are far more likely to be enthusiastic at a younger age
- Lead by example:
Show the little poppets what you require of them when you’re asking for their help with a cleaning task, and try to make it as clear as possible; even if you have them watch you complete a task before you let them loose on it
- Give them a checklist/reward chart:
Assuming your kids are of reading age, you could create a simple checklist for them to refer to, in which each task is clearly listed, along with basic instructions and a space for them to tick each task off when they have completed it
A similar chart could be made up in which you implement a reward system for a certain number of cleaning tasks successfully completed, or for the standard of each task, with the use of stickers (gold stars for example). Perhaps a certain number of stickers could result in a treat? Remember, you don’t have to financially reward your kids, it could be allowing them to spend time watching their favourite DVD or eating a snack that they really enjoy, but aren’t always allowed.
- Buy bins and storage containers:
It’s no use telling your kids to put their toys away tidily after they’ve finished playing with them, if they have nowhere suitable to store them; storage containers are cheap to buy and come in a whole range of shapes and sizes, and they are the perfect way of keeping a tidy home, or at least helping add to the illusion!
- Pint sized cleaning kits
While these cleaning kits for kids may be available from some stores, they are just as easy to make yourself. Simply purchase a few brightly coloured basic cleaning items and place them in a bucket or basket that your kids can easily carry around with them. A dustpan and brush, a sponge and a duster would be a great start. No need to spend a lot of money on each item, but your kids will hopefully take a little more pride in their cleaning tasks if they know they have been entrusted with their own kit, and it will mean that you don’t have to stop cleaning because your kids have got all the equipment!
- Don’t let cleaning stop at the bedroom!
Starting your kids off with keeping their personal space clean and tidy is great, but don’t let it stop there! You can have them follow you as you clean each room of the house, and let them watch how each job is done. You could then split the cleaning tasks between each child (if you have more than one involved), and even ask which rooms they prefer to help with.
Offering your kids an element of choice when it comes to helping you with the cleaning, is always a good idea, that, coupled with incentives and rewards, should see them cleaning up after themselves, and preferably after you, too!