Most young families live in homes that are filled with clutter, thanks to the toys, books and clothes that children scatter everywhere around the house. There are ways to minimize the clutter, though. And this could start with teaching young children about cleaning up their own mess.
Hard to get children to help out at home? Well, how about making cleanup fun for kids? They are more likely to contribute if cleaning up is associated with fun. Here are some practical tips to get children’s participation to clear clutter at home.
Turn Cleanup into a Game
Kids love games. So try to turn cleanup into a game. Here are some ideas. Call the cleanup activity a scavenger hunt. Ask the child the pick up all toys in red, toys with wheels or stuffed animals and put them in boxes that are clearly labeled or marked with related icons. Set a timer and see who can find the most number of toys and put them properly. When the timer buzzes, the child with the most number of toys collected will be the winner, who should be duly rewarded. Rest assured the kids will be even more co-operative the next time a cleanup game is on!
Let Kids to Play with Only One Toy
Children often pour out the entire content of a toy box only to play with one or two toys. Let kids play with only one toy at a time. If the child starts taking out a new items and promptly forgets the toy he was playing with earlier, remind him to put away the old toy first before playing with the new one. Explain that there is no room for all of them in the same spot. Make dramatic statements like “Oh! People are going to trip all over the toys!” to get the child’s participation.
Allow Children to Decorate Storage Boxes
Children enjoy coloring and decorating too. So why not allow them to decorate their storage boxes as well? Let them use color pencils, crayons, markers or even stickers to label their toy boxes. They can also cut out pictures from old magazines and advertising materials and stick them on the toy boxes. They would love to pack up and put back toys into bins and boxes that they’ve helped “create”.
Use Spray Bottles
Give a spray bottle to a child and she’ll be happy to help with any cleaning job. To make sure the spray bottle is safe for the child to handle, don’t use a chemical cleaner. Instead, dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in warm water and pour it into the spray bottle. It will clean most dirt and colors off the floor and wall. Locate dirty areas, point them out to the child and let her spray while Mum uses a cloth or sponge to wipe them. As the child gets older, she can do both spraying and wiping.
Don’t live with clutter and mess in the house. Teach children to help clear clutter by incorporating fun elements in the chore. Parents can turn cleanup into a game, let kids play with only one toy at at a time, allow them to decorate their storage boxes and use spray bottles to clean up.
Found this article useful? Read also Kids and Household Chores, Teaching Young Children Household Chores and Types of Household Chores for Children.
References:
Baglivi Tinglof, Christina. The Organized Parent. New York: Contemporary Books, 2002.
Carrol, Deborah and Reid, Stella. Nanny 911. New York: ReganBooks, 2005.
Wei Yin Wong - I started my working life as a reporter at an English daily called The Sun in Malaysia 16 years ago, writing health-related articles. ...
