Teaching Your Kids to Clean Up

If you are a parent, you know how difficult it can be to do housework and watch the children. It seems like every time you pick something up, they are pulling something else right back out. Keeping the house clean when it is full of little kids can be quite the challenge, but if you involve them in the daily clean up, you might find that it is easier than you thought. Even very young children can do household chores. The key is to involve them in your daily activities and teach them along the way. While some children are more "helpful" than others, even the most stubborn child can find a job to do. Try to find jobs that are suitable for their ages and personalities. The chores that your active 2 year old will find exciting are not the same ones your mature 5 year old will enjoy doing. Here are some little ways you can get the housework done WITH the kids instead of fighting them!

Teach your Kids to Clean Up Tip #1: Doing the Dishes

Teach your child to help you unload the dishwasher. Have her hand you the cups, spoons, forks etc as you pick them up. As she gets older, she will learn where the dishes go and she can begin to unload the dishwasher herself.

Teach your Kids to Clean Up Tip #2: Laundry

Teach your child to help fold and pick up laundry. Even the most stubborn child will enjoy learning how to put shirts on small coat hangers. Managing this task is also helpful with fine motor skills and eye and hand coordination. Once they put several shirts on their hangers, have them help you fold socks. If their dresser drawers aren't too high, they can be taught to put their socks away!

Teach your Kids to Clean Up Tip #3: Pick up Toys

Some children are overwhelmed by the phrase " clean your room". Small children aren't always able to know exactly what that means, so try to be very specific at first. Have them pick up on group of toys at a time. Example: Put all of your dolls away, pick up your trains and put them in the train box...

Teach your Kids to Clean Up Tip #4: Windows

Teach your preschooler to clean the windows. With your supervision, spray the windows with Windex or another solution. Have your child clean the bottom of the glass while you clean the tops.

Teach your Kids to Clean Up Tip #5: Bathroom Detail

Give your child a wet wipe and have her wipe off the bathroom countertops. If you are supervising, most children LOVE to clean toilets with the toilet wand. Just be sure to watch them or you may end up with toilet water all over your bathroom and a bigger mess than when you started.

Teach your Kids to Clean Up Tip #6: Sorting Mail

Teach your child to get the mail. Have them help you carry bills in the house and sort the junk mail into a pile! If you want to Eliminate Junk Mail altogether, you can go online and remove your name from the mailing lists. Otherwise, let them open letters, sort mail and place stamps on envelopes to mail again. Give them an empty checkbook register so they can practice adding and subtracting with a calculator.

Teach your Kids to Clean Up Tip #7: Kitchen Duty

Your preschooler can also be taught to sweep the kitchen. Find a small broom or cut a longer one to make it easier for your child to sweep. Show her/him how to sweep the dirt from the floor into a pile. If sweeping isn't your child's forte, let her hold the dustpan while you sweep. Before dinner, your child can begin to set the table. Have them place forks, plates and cups around the table. For a fun project, make laminated placemats with photos of where the dishes go. This will teach your child how to properly set the table and prevent her from "forgetting" necessary dinner utensils. Then all they have to do is place the fork on the picture of the fork, the plate on the picture of the plate..etc.

Teach your Kids to Clean Up Tip #8: Making Beds

Make their beds. Children can learn how to crudely make their beds even at 2 years old. Of course, it won't be perfect, and at first it may just be pushing their blanket over their pillow, but in time, they will become very good at it. Have them choose a few special stuffed animals to place on the bed after they make it, then store or get rid of the rest.

Teach your Kids to Clean Up Tip #9: Washing the Car

This project can take as long or as little time as you need it to. It can also be extremely messy and requires supervision, but it will be a great activity for hot days. Have your child fill a bucket with warm soapy water. Give them a sponge, a few sponge paintbrushes, and a rag, sit back and watch as they wash your car. Once they are through, have them hose off the car and each other!

Teach your Kids to Clean Up Tip #10: Cooking Dinner

Even young children can learn how to help with dinner. Of course you would never leave a child unattended around an open flame or hot burners. But children can be taught to wash fruits and vegetables, peel corn, toss salad, stir pancake batter, season chicken, pound meat with a mallet, and pour dinner drinks.

Teaching your kids to clean up after themselves and help with household chores sometimes seems like more work at first. But in the end, you will be teaching your children valuable life lessons AND getting the house cleaned at the same time. Instead of video games and TV, try involving your children in clean up next time and you just might be surprised how easy it can be.