Cleaning the house is a chore that no one particularly enjoys, especially children. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can make these tasks a little easier and fun by getting your children involved in in the process. With a little guidance and some encouragement, you’ll be surprised at what your kids are able to accomplish – even the little ones.
GET YOUR CHILD INVOLVED
Start by getting your children excited about cleaning. Give them their own supplies and make sure they are child-safe. Cleaning tools that are the appropriate size will help your child complete chores easier and give them some ownership in the process. Explain to your child the importance of keeping a clean house. Demonstrate how to perform some simple tasks, to begin with, and let your child finish the job on their own.
START WITH SIMPLE CHORES
Getting your child involved in the household cleaning needs to start slowly. Give them simple jobs that they can do without struggling. It doesn’t make sense to have them complete a challenging chore right off the bat. This will only discourage them and make them less prone to helping out. Begin with jobs like putting their toys away when they are done for the day, sorting the laundry or dusting.
CREATE A ROUTINE
Making a cleaning routine that your child can follow helps to provide some stability to the day. If you have multiple children, allow them to take turns with their chores and make it their responsibility to clean up after themselves. Give your children the job of clearing the table, loading the dishwasher or doing the dishes each night. They will know what is expected of them and will find the routine easy to follow.
LET YOUR CHILD DO THEIR BEST
It might be a cringe-worthy moment to watch your child clean. You may want to jump in and finish the job or redo what they have done. Resist the urge to take over. Let your child do their best and give them some pointers on how to do it better. Remember you don’t want to discourage their progress. Over time, they will get better at cleaning and be able to complete the job to your satisfaction.
REWARD A JOB WELL DONE
As your child completes a chore, reward them for the work they have done. Make it a game and reward them with a fun activity. Having something to look forward to can incentivize your child and motive them to do more around the house. This will help you get the cleaning done and allow your child to learn some essential household skills.
MAKE IT A PARTNERSHIP
Cleaning the house with your child can give you some bonding time to talk and laugh. Let them be your cleaning helper and lead by example by doing some cleaning jobs alongside them. This provides a good example and allows you to work together with your child as a team. Plus, this builds strong teambuilding skills that your child will continue to use as an adult.
PLAY THE BAD GUY
There are going to be times when your child defies you and doesn’t want to do their chores. You need to provide consequences for their actions and teach them that they need to follow through on all the cleaning tasks that they are required to do. It may seem harsh to enforce punishment, but your child will soon learn that they need to adhere to your rules and complete their chores to avoid a penalty that they don’t like or agree with.
Starting your child on a cleaning routine can give them self-confidence and build their self-esteem as they work to please you and help out around the house. Don’t be afraid to have your child start cleaning at an early age. The sooner you teach them some helpful chores, the more responsibility and independence they will gain. Plus, you could definitely use a helping hand, and your child is the perfect helper to give you that assistance. So, get started teaching your child how to clean now. It’s never too early or late to start. Happy cleaning!
