Kids and cleaning don't always go hand-in-hand, but there are ways to introduce cleaning to your children so that they pick up good habits. The maid service professionals at MOLLY MAID provide the following guide:
Set a good example. Parents are kids' first role models. Do you take pride in your home? Keep your own things in order? Have a positive attitude toward the daily tasks of keeping house? If the answer is yes, you're halfway there.
Help create a sense of pride. Ownership helps to instill a sense of pride. Find ways to give kids some control over their space. For example, let them rearrange the furniture or choose the colour of paint for their room. They can also decorate boxes to organize their stuff or make pictures for the walls.
Explain exactly what cleaning a room means. In fact, make a checklist kids can refer to with pictures for little ones and simple words for older ones.
- Make your bed.
- Put dirty laundry in hamper.
- Hang up or put away clean clothes.
- Put toys and equipment away.
- Turn off your computer at night.
- Vacuum or sweep your floor.
Organize. Provide boxes and bins for storage. Work together at labeling and deciding what goes where.
De-clutter constantly. Make it a rule that for everything that goes into the room, something needs to come out. For example, if your daughter gets a new skirt, an old one goes to the local Salvation Army. A new toy means an old one must get passed along to someone else who could use it. This rule teaches kids that keeping things tidy makes them feel good. It's also important to keep the room clean of dirty dishes and garbage, and to put clean clothes away after it's been laundered.
Together. Show kids how it's done, rather than just telling them how to clean. As they master the skills and no longer need step-by-step encouragement, you can use that time to talk with them about their day or how school is going.
