It’s pretty safe to say that kids tend to make a mess and they’re usually not too bothered about living amongst clutter. However, it’s important to teach them the life skills of cleaning and tidying up from a young age so that they can adopt an organised and healthy homelife when they grow up- and it’s pretty handy for parents now! Read on for three strategies on how to do this…
At What Age Can Children Be Taught to Clean Up?
You might be wondering what’s an appropriate age before you can hand your child the rubber gloves for washing up, and you may be surprised at the advice given by Restful Parenting. They say: ‘The beginning phase of teaching babies to clean up is something you can start as young as 9 or 10 months old. You can even start earlier if your baby seems to watch and observe you a lot.’ They go on to suggest that you can start to show them how to tidy away toys at this age as they’re likely to watch you intently.
Toddlers:
Once your little one starts walking, they’ll be more inquisitive than ever and will naturally want to copy what you’re doing around the home. This is also a time where they’re more interested in toys and will flit from one to the other, often leaving a trail of toys behind them. What to expect suggests that cleaning up together can be done in the evening, rather than trying to keep on top of it throughout the day: ‘Both you and your child will go crazy if you try to keep a cap on the mess all day… Pick a consistent time (say, right before washing up for dinner), and make it a regular part of your child’s daily routine.’
Younger children:
Once they’ve grown out of the toddler stage and have better language skills, you can start to introduce more household chores:
- Using a feather duster
- Watering plants
- Feeding pets
- Making their bed in the morning
Appropriate for approximately 4 years+.
Older children:
- Sweeping/mopping the floor
- Folding laundry
- Wiping down kitchen sides
- Washing/drying dishes
Appropriate for approximately 8 years+.
Teenagers:
- Weeding the garden
- Washing the car
- Vacuuming
- Cooking
- Ironing
Appropriate for approximately 12 years+.
Three Ways to Encourage Cleaning and Make it Fun
Sometimes, kids can be reluctant to help out and will complain that it’s boring. Here are three ways to motivate them:
1. Play some music and make it an opportunity to dance
Dancing while cleaning is fun and therapeutic. Allow them to pick the soundtrack and crank up the volume!
2. Give them options
Rather than ordering them to do XYZ, try to give them a choice between a few different tasks so they can pick what they’re most comfortable with.
3. Remember to give lots of praise and gratitude
Even if their tidying isn’t quite up to your adult standard, try to give lots of ‘thank yous’ and positive statements to encourage them to want to help out again.
We hope you enjoyed reading these tips and are able to enjoy cleaning and tidying up with your children. After all, home is where the heart is and it should feel like a safe sanctuary for you and your family. Just like Instagram sensation, Mrs Hinch, said in her book Hinch Yourself Happy: ‘My home means everything to me. It means safety, cosiness and happiness.’