Every parent knows that kids don’t want to clean, it is their sole desire to have fun and enjoy childhood but as a parent we need to instill some organization and cleaning skills within our children as a means to help them grow into well rounded adults. Today we will discuss how to have your kids help with Spring cleaning as a means for you to get the chore of Spring cleaning completed faster.
Index Cards
Using one index card per child with a list of their assigned tasks during Spring cleaning will alleviate the flack to you as the parent. Every child learns to tune out their parents at some point, using index cards sets a clear instruction of what you expect from each child and allows them to learn how to prioritize their tasks. One card might say, “Help daddy change the furnace filter,” while another might be as simple as cleaning out the refrigerator. Sit down and discuss that Spring cleaning is in full bloom and that you will all be working together as a family to get that chore done so that you can have more time to do other things afterward.
Uplift the Environment
Are you a family who works best when there is music playing? Turn on some tunes to have in the background so that the children will focus on that wonderful music instead of the mundane tasks that they are required to complete. Having an uplifting environment through background music makes Spring cleaning fly by faster for both parents and children, as it sets the mood to be positive and in turn encourages a little motivation without saying a word.
Get Creative
Creativity always wins with children and Spring cleaning, let your children wear old socks and slip slide all over the hardwood floors to help dust the home. You can also use this sock method for dusting of furniture by allowing the children to wear old socks on their hands; this is way more fun to a child than the regular dusting methods. Have a child who is OCD? Let them alphabetize the spices while they organize them in your spice rack or cupboard. Let your child pretend to be a detective while they clean your pantry in search of expired items.
Reward, Reward, Reward
Much like adults, children just want to feel appreciated for their efforts. Once your children have put in the hard day’s work of Spring cleaning with you, reward them with something fun. The reward for having kids help with Spring cleaning doesn’t have to cost you a dime! Use a little creativity to find ways to make your children feel appreciated for helping with Spring cleaning. Maybe you can designate some one on one time or after you are all done working together to Spring clean you can take them to their favorite park and let loose to be a kid with them!
How to Have Your Kids Help with Spring Cleaning
Overall, the best methods on how to have your kids help with Spring cleaning comes down to not nagging, use index cards to assign their tasks, make the environment encouraging with music in background, use creativity in both methods of Spring cleaning as well as with the rewards afterward. If you follow these few tips on how to get kids to help with Spring cleaning, you are sure to have success and a clean home!
