How to Involve Your Kids in Cleaning the Home

Involving children in household chores is important not only to have a clean home environment but to help instill principles of work while they are young. It is a fact that kids who are used to having home responsibilities eventually grow up to be more mature, dependable, and independent compared with their peers. Another benefit is that you will be able to have fewer things to worry about as you share the housekeeping tasks with them.

However, many parents usually find it challenging to get their children started in the first place. Kids sometimes come up with the most creative excuses why they do not want to clean their room or help with the dishes.

So how do you get them motivated? Here are a few tips you can consider:

1. Set a good example.

Your biggest role, as a parent, is to set an example of cleanliness for your children to follow. You will probably have a hard time encouraging them to get involved in cleaning if they see that your room or work table is always a mess.
Show them the value of keeping things orderly by personally taking care of your stuff. To put it simply, you have to practice what you preach.

2. Teach them how to clean.

One thing you have to realize is that many kids are actually hesitant to clean merely because they do not know how to do it.
Spend time to train them by showing them how certain tasks are done and how specific cleaning tools are used. Work side by side with your child and provide positive feedback whenever you see any improvement.
Speaking of tools, make sure that you allow them to use those that are right for their age. This means younger kids shouldn’t hold a vacuum cleaner yet or other similar equipment. Chemicals should also be kept at bay until they are old enough.

To sum up the whole point, tasks and tools should be age-appropriate.

3. Set a schedule.

Make cleaning a part of your lives by setting a schedule for it. Allotting even at least half an hour for cleaning chores can make a big difference. That way, your kids get used to it and being clean eventually becomes second nature to them.

Divide tasks among your kids so they know their responsibilities ahead of time. Write down the details and print a chart. Post it where every family member can always see it (such as your refrigerator).

4. Give incentives.

To make things fun, you can give simple rewards whenever your kids perform their responsibilities. Treat them for some ice cream or pizza. Go out and see a movie on the weekend. Allow them to watch TV or play their favorite video games at least one hour longer than usual.

Be careful, however, not to overdo this because it might defeat the purpose. In the long run, you want them to realize that the real prize for cleaning is that they get to enjoy a safe and tidy environment.

Author:

Ben Wall is a home and design blogger with over 10 years experience in interior design and landscape. You can find additional information about home cleaning Melbourne services at ProEvolutionCleaning website.

Image credit:  DeclanTM on Flickr