If you have kids, you may have noticed that theyâre not that into cleaning. And we canât really blame them, since weâre not big fans of it either. But before you bang your head against the wall and plead with your little ones to pick up their rooms once again, here are some pro tips from experienced parents who turned their kids into more eager helpers.
- Give single, small directives - So instead of âclean your room,â think more like âput your Legos in the basket.â
- Donât underestimate the power of a cleanup song - Make it up, they wonât know the difference and it really motivates the under-three set.
- Start a toy rotation system - Make a rule that you have to put away a set of toys before taking out another. Matchbox cars get picked up so they can play with the blocks.
- Make cleanup time part of the everyday routine - Like before dinner or after a bath, so itâs expected and tolerated, just like brushing their teeth.
- Create a friendly competition between siblings - Challenge your kiddos to race to the finish line with a clean room first.
- Play music they love - Turn on the âMoanaâ soundtrack and let them sing while they clean.
- Turn it into a dance party - While youâre playing the music, make it a cleanup/dance party mashup.
- Barter with them - Make a deal with them that if they put away five things, then you can do XYZ together.
- Cut them â and yourself â a break - The world wonât end if there are toys on the floor, even if it feels like it will. So relax, mama, youâre all doing a good job.
Source: PureWow