How to Spring Clean with Kids

Spring, a favorite time of year for many. It’s usually a time when people think rebirth, new beginning and yes, spring cleaning. When you clear out all the dirt and clutter in an attempt to organize your home and life – a chore that can be difficult with children hanging around. Including them in the cleanup is usually the best way to handle this challenge, but you’re going to have to make it fun for them to want to participate. Here are a few tips to help everyone have a good time while getting the house clean.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Start with the right tools. Depending on the age of your child, that can be anything from a small bucket, a sponge or a child-size shovel and rake. The goal is to make him feel like one of the big guys.

2. Assigned age appropriate task. Remember a five year old is limited in what she can do. Delegate the big jobs, such as shampooing the living room carpet or organizing the garage to the teenagers. While the smaller tasks, such as helping mommy dust, goes to the little ones.

3. Turn it into a team effort. I am sure there are times when you see the chore of cleaning the bathroom as a lonely and boring one. Your child probably feels the same way, but think of how much more fun it would be to pair up and make light work of the task. While you scrub the toilet, your daughter polishes the fixtures and empty the trash.

4. Make it into a competition. Basically divided everyone into teams and see who can finish their particular task the fastest. Children thrive on competition, especially if there is some sort of reward at the end.

5. Remove any tussle of wills by writing out the daily tasks. Divvy the jobs up between the teams, or let each team choose one until the work is done. This way they won’t see it as mom and dad nagging at them again.

6. Let the music play. Playing upbeat music or an exciting audio book should keep spirits high and everyone motivated. For added benefit give each child a say in the music or story that plays. If your daughter likes hip hop then one of her favorite tunes gets played, and the same goes for your son who may prefer rap.

7. Reward all their hard work. At the end of the day make sure everyone gets a reward, whether that’s you buy your daughter her favorite doll or CD, everyone goes out to dinner or you simply order pizza.

Tips & Warnings

• Understand that once adolescence hits, your teen will lose his appeal of working with a parent. The solution is to ignore his whining and complaints, and praise him for a job well done.