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If there’s one thing all parents know, it’s that no child likes doing their chores. Be it picking up toys after playtime or washing their plate, you could probably get your little one to build a spaceship before they willingly clean up after themselves. However, learning to keep your space tidy and neat is an important life skill to teach your kids. Not only does it make you more efficient and organized but it’s great for your mental health. After all, no one wants to come back home to a messy house.
Although teaching children life skills at a young age is a challenging task, the earlier you start the better. You could even start as early as 9 to 10 months. As soon as your children gain some mobility and are able to control their movements, they are going to start mimicking your actions and this can involve cleaning! Remember that this is a good thing. Giving your little one age appropriate tasks will help them develop positive habits and prepare them for adulthood. Here are a couple of tricks to help you do just that!
1. Cleaning Should Not Be A Punishment
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We’re sure that as a child you were made to tidy up your room or clean up a mess you created as punishment. It’s almost second nature for parents to give their kids chores as a punishment because they are tasks that your little one doesn’t like doing. But how can you get them to like it if you keep reinforcing the belief that they are unpleasant, unlikable actions? The best way to get your child to clean is to make them see it as something that is exciting and fun to do instead of it being a punishment.
For example, you can start a tradition with your child and make cleaning a speed competition to get their interest. Add in a funky looking hourglass or a stopwatch to add to the competitive element to your cleaning. Then all you need to do is relax and let your child win. The hourglass can be a great addition as it can show your child how quickly time passes by. This way, they can understand that cleaning doesn’t have to be long and tiring but can be fast and fun instead.
2. Break Down The Tasks
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If your child’s enthusiasm for cleaning fades when they see a big mess, try breaking it into small tasks right from a young age. Assigning your little one manageable tasks is the correct way to motivate them to finish their chores, rather than giving up midway because it seems overwhelming. This approach also makes cleaning much more efficient. Your child doesn’t need to tidy the entire room; they can start by simply putting their toys into a basket. That’s half the work done, and they won’t even realize it!
Another effective strategy to inspire your kids to clean is by offering them cleaning tools designed for children their age. These tools not only pique their interest but are also safer for your child compared to adult-sized equipment, which might be too large and heavy for them to handle. Plus, who can resist the charm of a colorful, pint-sized cleaning kit?
3. Create A Cleaning Schedule
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Like adults, children thrive on routine and schedules to keep them organized. When it comes to cleaning, involving your child in the process is a great approach. You can make it interactive by letting them participate in planning their chores for each day of the week. For instance, designate Monday for tidying up toys, Tuesday for helping with general house cleaning, and Sundays for preparing outfits and school bags for the upcoming week. By involving them in this process, your children can take ownership of their responsibilities.
Creating a schedule in collaboration with your child not only instills a sense of responsibility but also teaches them the importance of completing tasks on time. This way, they are less likely to complain because they were part of creating the plan.
Get them a magnetic calendar that they can stick colorful posters on or cross out once the task for the day is done. You can also add in a little reward bag with a piece of candy waiting for them at the end of the day. This will further incentivize them to stick to their schedule. It’s also a great way to motivate them to complete crossing out the tasks on the chart.
Getting kids to clean may be a hard job but it is not impossible. As long as your children feel like they are learning new things or accomplishing something in engaging and fun ways, they’ll do just about anything. Also make sure to thank your kids for their help once they are done with chores so that they know how much their contribution means to you. Happy parenting!
