How to Create a Room Cleaning Checklist and Reward System for Kids
There are clothes scattered all over your daughter's bedroom floor, trash is piled up next to her bed, wet towels from yesterday's swimming are piled in the corner...and what is that under her pillow? Ewww! Getting your kids to clean their rooms can be a never ending battle. The very nature of kids seems to make them want to go on and do something fun rather than go back and clean up the mess they just made. However, there are a few things you can do to help them keep their rooms neat and tidy. By providing the kids with a room cleaning checklist and rewards for keeping their rooms neat, you'll win this battle once and for all.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Make a Checklist
-
1
Pick your battles. Is it really important if there are a few toys scattered on the floor? Or are you more concerned about the moldy towels in the corner? Make a list of the things that are of greatest concern to you and start there. Your child may not be ready to make his own bed everyday, but you can still improve the situation in small steps. The eventual goal is to have a neatly made bed and tidy room, but it's always best to start small and add items as you go along.
-
2
Decide where to start. Make a list of the things you insist upon and set a few rules. For example, no eating or drinking anything in the bedroom, all wet towels must be picked up and all trash must be thrown in the trash can. Create a checklist or chore chart in a word processing program listing these items down the left side and the days of the week across the top.
-
-
3
Laminate your chore list. Use dry erase markers to check off days the chores were completed. Some people prefer to not laminate the chore chart and instead to use stickers. It works best if you have the child make the checks or put on the stickers. This allows your child to see her progress clearly and have a sense of pride.
Reward System
-
4
Sit down with your child and discuss possible rewards that she would like. For example, going out for ice cream, a trip to the zoo or a new toy.
-
5
Decide how many check marks, stickers or points are needed to receive each of these rewards. For example, 10 checks or stickers earn an ice cream cone. The goals should be challenging but attainable. A bigger prize would require more points.
-
6
Enforce the new system. This is probably the most important step in creating a room cleaning checklist and reward system for your child. You should not take checks or stickers away if the child misbehaves. However, you should not give your child a check or sticker unless that item was completed to your satisfaction. If the child has attempted to pick up trash, but didn't get it all, you may want to give him another chance, explaining that you want each piece of trash picked up and thrown away. Check the room again and if it is still not to your satisfaction, show the child how you want it done, but do not give him a sticker or check. The next day, he should be able to complete this task alone. Follow through on rewards. If the child has earned 10 stickers and wants an ice cream, tell him when you'll be going for the treat and stick to it.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Add new cleaning items to the checklist slowly. Stick with 1 to 3 items for at least 2 weeks. Then, add 1 new chore at a time.
Keeping things organized can help your child complete his chores. Have a trash can in the bedroom, for example.
Praise your child with words as well as check marks and stickers for a job well done.
