How to Stop a Child Leaving the Kitchen in a Mess

Many parents dread it when children begin using the kitchen. They usually leave a mess that includes some combination of food on the counters, a pile of dirty dishes, open cabinets, spills on the floor, clogged sinks, explosions in the microwave and activated smoke alarms. A few simple techniques will encourage children to clean up their mess without stifling use of the kitchen.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look for the positive. Food preparation, no matter how small, is an important skill for children to learn. Encourage it verbally. For example, say, "You made hot chocolate all by yourself!"

2. Make an initial offer to help clean up the mess. Say, "Let's clean up the mess together." Children sometimes decline the offer because they want to prove they can clean the kitchen unassisted. Other times children welcome the help and additional opportunities to please parents. Either way, children learn that cleaning up after themselves is important.

3. Make cleaning the mess fun. If you are sharing the work, flip a coin for duties such as washing, drying, wiping and sweeping. Talk, sing, laugh. Show children by example how to clean the kitchen with a good attitude.

4. Hold children accountable. When children leave a mess in the kitchen, explain how it inconveniences others in the household. Verbalize a rule such as, "The person who uses the kitchen must clean it." Give them the opportunity to do the right thing voluntarily before issuing an order.

5. Arrange for positive consequences. When children clean their kitchen mess in its entirety or even make smaller efforts toward the goal, compliment them. Verbal praise increases the likelihood that the cleaning will be repeated.

6. Use negative consequences for infractions. When children are not present to clean a mess they left in the kitchen, suspend between meal kitchen privileges for the next day or two.

7. Set a good example. Children emulate their parents. Clean the kitchen after use, and children will follow suit.

Tips & Warnings

• Never withhold meals as punishment. Breakfast, lunch and dinner should not be associated with overly negative or positive feelings.

Resources

• For information about getting children to clean a mess in the kitchen and other parenting advice, go to the website for the Berkley Parents Network.