5 Great Ideas to Have Your Kids Help Clean!

 

Having  kids help clean teaches them how to take care of themselves once they are on their own!

I’ve noticed lately that kids don’t help clean the house like they used to do. Sports and phones seem to eat up their time.  At my house, everyday, the kids help clean and must pick up after themselves. They each have certain chores. On Saturdays, they have their weekend chores that must be completed before the fun stuff begins! My advice is to start slowly if you don’t know where to start.

5 Ideas to Have your Kids Help Clean:

1. To begin having your kids help clean, start by buying a poster board and a magic marker and write down the chores each child is responsible for.
2. Be very specific, designating what chores need to be completed each day, and what chores need to be done on specific days, such as maybe Saturdays, helps your children to organize their time.
3. Start slowly and be prepared to show them how to do the chore. For example, it your child is responsible for cleaning their bathroom sink each Saturday, show them how first, and then have them do it. Being consistent is key here. Don't forget to praise them for a job well done!
4. When they are ready, add on the toilet, then the shower, then vacuuming their own rooms, etc. making sure you show them how you would like it done. Don't forget to tell them what a great job they did when it’s done correctly!
5. In a couple of months, they will have learned how to be able to do things themselves. This is a life skill so extremely important, which they can take with them where ever they go.

Here is an example to help motivate you to get started:

Emma’s chore list: Must be completed before any TV or phone timeEvery day: 

• Tidy room
• Take recycling out if needed
• Check dishwasher and empty if needed
• Clean kitty litter box out
• Put any clean cloths that are yours away in dresser
• Collect chicken eggs

Saturdays: 

• All the everyday chores
• Rotate between cleaning your toilet and sink in your bathroom
• Take bedroom and bathroom trash to large trash can outside
• Vacuum your room

Believe it or not, your kids will enjoy feeling needed to help things run smoothly around the house. Start slow and work your way up to avoid the dread of getting the kids to help you. One more thing, be prepared to accept their efforts even if they are not perfect. Try not to “ do things yourself because it’s easier”. It may be easier at first, but much more difficult in the long run, good luck!