Is there anything more disheartening than stepping into your kids’ room only to find it resembling a scene of chaos? It’s as if a whirlwind swept through, leaving toys, clothes, and clutter in its wake. And when you muster up the courage to ask your little ones to tidy up, the ensuing tantrums can quickly turn your stress levels up a notch. But fear not! Teaching your kids to clean their room doesn’t have to be an insurmountable challenge.
In fact, there are thoughtful and caring ways you can gradually guide them into embracing regular house cleaning. So, let’s dive in and discover some effective tips to make this task a little more manageable!
How to teach your children to clean their room
As with any other skill, cleaning requires practice to assimilate it. So, teaching your children to look after their room can be a long process, but the results are all worth it.
Involving your kids in cleaning tasks won’t only free you from a couple of chores. It will also prepare them for adult life by giving them a better sense of self-worth, responsibility, and self-reliance. Try the following four tips to achieve this.
Tip #1. Let them know beforehand
Wouldn’t you be annoyed if you suddenly get interrupted while watching your favorite TV show? In general terms, that’s what kids feel when you come out of nowhere and make them clean while they are having fun.
Putting up a routine lets children know what to expect with certainty. You can start by giving them a 10-minute verbal notice in advance when they are playing or that cleaning time will come after TV time ends.
As they become accustomed, you can create a schedule for cleaning times and stick it to the fridge for your kids to see.
Tip #2. Show them how to do it
Kids get frustrated when cleaning their room (thus not liking it) if they don’t know how to do the chores you assign them. Showing your kids how to clean their room will make them more receptive to cleaning.
You can even label drawers, shelves, and boxes with pictures of what goes inside. Finally, as kids develop their cleaning skills, you can spend less and less time guiding them.
Tip #3. Don’t make cleaning a punishment
If you make your kids clean their room as a punishment for bad behavior, they’ll think about it as a bad experience, and they will be less open to doing it on their own. Still, cleaning can be bothersome for other reasons, but you can make it fun!
Kids love to play, so you can hide treats in the clutter for your kids to find, or you can challenge them to pick up the most toys they can within a certain time. Playing will change your children’s perception of cleaning by associating it with fun times.
Tip #4. Praise and reward them
Everybody likes when their actions are acknowledged positively, especially kids. So, give your children praise and tell them how proud you are when they put effort into chores. Rewarding your kids with something they love might work effectively for future cleaning tasks.
A clean house is a loving home
Teaching your kids can take your time from other cleaning chores. So, let our experienced cleaners at CalMaids clean your house from top to bottom while you share precious time with your children! Ask for a free quote today to enjoy premium cleaning services!
