No matter your age, cleaning can be a daunting task we all have to do, but it’s much easier to get the job done when you have a little helper. Most parents wonder how to get kids to do chores around the house, and it’s easy with the help of these tips:
Keep organized.
The best thing you can do to make cleaning easier for yourself and your child is to keep your home organized.
Use color coded hangers to keep clothes coordinated, and store toys in bins with labels, this way your child understands where to put everything. Everyone can become overwhelmed with clutter, but using a simple organization system can help everyone stay on task and keep items where they need to be.
Make cleaning fun by turning it into a game.
Kids are more motivated to help out when they’re having fun, so turn cleaning into a game. Tap into your child’s creative side and pretend they own a cleaning company, and need clean to keep their business running.
You can also turn on some music to dance to while you both clean, or even hold a competition to see who can do the most chores in one day. No matter what you do, keep it fun and creative, that way your child will find cleaning exciting.
Be specific with household chores.
It’s understandable that you may feel overwhelmed by cleaning that needs to be done in the home, but imagine how overwhelmed your children may feel when you tell them to clean an area and they aren’t exactly sure how to approach the task.
Before asking them to do a chore, like clean their room or the bathroom, lay out a specific list of what you’d like them to do in order to get the job done. This way they can mark off everything they’ve done, and they won’t miss something important like folding laundry or putting toys away while cleaning up.
Plan around their schedule.
It can be difficult to understand how to get kids to do chores as they get older. Their responsibilities outside of the home become a bit more demanding, and it may be hard for them to find time for chores.
Of course, that’s not to say they shouldn’t ignore cleaning responsibilities. However, kids today are busier than ever, and it can be difficult for them to focus on cleaning up when they have a test to cram for, homework to get done, and a sports competition to attend over the weekend.
Therefore, don’t expect them to get everything done instantly – try to communicate with them so they have time for other priorities and still get to enjoy free time in between. On days they have lighter homework, or before they go to school, ask them to tidy up for a few minutes. Additionally, on days they are free, have them help tackle bigger household chores.
Reward their efforts.
Children can become discouraged easily at a young age, especially if they’ve made a mistake. If your child made their bed, but it looks a bit messy, don’t get mad. Be appreciative of their efforts, and help them fix their mistake. Everyone makes mistakes, but you can use this as a learning moment to teach your child how to properly do something next time. Afterwords, take them out for ice cream or a surprise movie.
Cleaning is something we all have to do, but you can teach your kids to enjoy it. The next time you wonder how to get kids to do chores, use these tips to help make cleaning fun and rewarding! We’ve also created a special free downloadable checklist, you can use to help you keep track of everything you’ve cleaned in your home, simply click the button below.
