The idea of kids cleaning their rooms without being asked might be a little far-fetched. However, the following tips will help keep your kids’ rooms clean without a daily struggle.
Start by Decluttering to Help Kids Cleaning Their Rooms
Let’s face it, kid’s rooms are often mess magnets because they have so many things. To start your kids off on the right foot, it helps to declutter their rooms to control the accumulation of stuff everywhere. Here’s how to tackle it:
- Clothes: Kids grow quickly, which means their closets and dressers are often filled with clothes that no longer fit. Start by going through their clothes and setting aside everything they no longer wear. Then, every time your child says something is too tight or too short, have a bag to toss it in and take it to the local charity (or pass it on to younger siblings) once the bag is full.
- Toys: Sit in your kid’s room and ask them what toys they use often, less frequently, that they have outgrown, or that are broken. Sort them into baskets or on shelves, keeping their favourites in easy-to-reach spots and then less frequently used toys in something such as a large chest (with a safety lid!). Give away anything they’ve outgrown and toss the rest.
- Install shelves: Shelves are a kid’s room’s best friend. They can be used for all their books, are ideal for containers like baskets and bins, and offer vertical storage options to make the most of small spaces.
Arts and Craft Supplies
Get creative and find ways to keep arts and crafts supplies tidy. Here are a few examples:
- Use mason/recycled sauce jars to store brushes, pencils, markers, scissors, beads, etc.
- Invest in mountable file organizers to store various types of paper.
- Hang an inexpensive cloth shoe organizer to store tubes and small tubs of paint.
- Use baskets for larger supplies or to put your assorted jars to keep everything in one place.
Start Kids Cleaning at an Early Age
Kids are creatures of habit. By starting kids cleaning their rooms at an early age, you can help instill tidying habits that last a lifetime. Some tips to inspire their inner neatnik include:
- Lead by example, ensuring everyone in the household practices good, neat habits by putting things away once they’re no longer needed.
- As soon as your child can sit up and get around, make a game of putting things away after reading or playtime.
- As they get older, have them join in the game, putting their own toys and books away.
- Praise your child for remembering to put their things away.
Provide a Hamper to Make Kids Cleaning Easier
Kids might simply be dropping dirty clothes on the floor because they don’t have their own hamper. If they have to walk to the laundry room, your room, the bathroom, etc. to dump their laundry, they will find it a hassle and decide they don’t want to do it. By providing a hamper in each kid’s room, you can help them stick to their tidy habits.
Inspire Kids Cleaning With a Neat and Tidy Home
As mentioned, leading by example goes a long way in helping kids develop cleaning habits. Having the whole family pitch in with home cleaning is a creative way to extend that example.
Making a game of it when they’re young helps develop positive attitudes toward cleaning while building self-esteem, confidence, and respect for their home and family members.
Also, pitching in teaches them how to complete age-appropriate cleaning tasks that they can do in their room, such as dusting and vacuuming. As they get older, you can have them tackle these chores in their room on cleaning day.
Establish a Kids Cleaning Daily Routine
Establishing a routine is also part of creating positive home and kids’ room cleaning habits. If they already have a routine, you might get lucky and not have to nag them to clean as often. An example of a typical daily home cleaning routine might include:
- Making their bed each morning.
- Putting their breakfast dishes in the dishwasher.
- Putting their school bag in a designated spot when they get home.
- Putting their homework away before dinner.
- Putting their clothes in the laundry at bath time.
- Putting their storybook back on the shelf at bedtime.
- Putting their toys away after dinner each evening.
Have a Kids Cleaning Schedule
A weekly cleaning schedule also helps keep kids’ rooms clean with less hassle by setting expectations. If your child is familiar with the fact that Saturday is vacuuming day or on Wednesday after school, they need to bring you their laundry, they become used to the idea and might even do it automatically.
Make Kids Cleaning Manageable
There are two sides to keeping cleaning manageable:
1. Time management
This is a skill your child can develop from an early age. Daily routines and weekly schedules help. However, if you’re not mindful of how busy they are, regardless of your child’s age, you can overwhelm them by putting too much emphasis on cleaning.
When your child has team practice, homework, playdates you’ve set up, school plays/extracurricular activities, etc., you need to prioritize what is most important for their well-being and development. Be specific and mindful of what you’re asking them to do.
For example, if they have to get up early for hockey practice, is leaving their bed unmade such a big deal? Instead of getting angry or nagging when your kid’s room is messy, stop and think of what they’ve got on their plate and help them manage their time accordingly.
2. Learning curve
We’ve mentioned the importance of “child-appropriate” chores. This is because kids have a learning curve, and parents need to learn to recognize their children’s individual development level.
For example, a 5-year-old child might be able to make their bed with some wrinkles and messiness, which you should praise and appreciate. As they get older, you can offer progressive tips to help smooth the bed and keep it neater. As they become even older, they can start changing the sheets.
Contact Expert House Cleaning Services in Toronto
Decluttering, cleaning schedules, and mindfulness of your child’s abilities all help kids’ cleaning habits develop naturally. Hopefully, as they get older, they get into the habit of cleaning their room, helping you avoid a daily struggle and creating a happier home.
Maid4Condos’ house cleaning services in Toronto can help keep your kids and home cleaning under control. Click here to learn more. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.
Share , Like & Engage On Social Media:
