How often have you walked into your child’s room only to be welcomed by a big mess? Are you tired of cleaning up after them? The last thing you need to do is to throw away something that is important to them by accident. If you’re tired of telling your kids to clean their rooms, here are some tips to help you:
Start Early
Toddlers like to help, so teach them tasks that they can do to help you clean up; if you still have a toddler, you’re lucky to have them just pick up their toys after their play time. You should set aside certain areas for storage for them so they know where to put their belongings. Always start them with simple tasks, like making their beds when they wake up. Then praise them for their efforts. Always encourage them so that you allow them to learn without discouraging their attempts. That means that you do not remake their beds if they are not perfect!
One trick to get them to help is to hide ‘surprises’ in their messes; things like coins, small toys, or something you know they would enjoy.
Rewards are great incentives, too, but don’t make those the only reason for cleaning. Always show appreciation and do not expect perfection when they are learning to clean and help out.
If all else fails, resort to the garbage bag trick. Use a garbage bag when you clean up instead of them and put everything in it. Then give them tasks to do to get those items back.
If your kids are going to school, then the next tip may help you.
Make a Schedule
Making a schedule will teach your kids how to become organized and time-efficient. Starting early on helping them make their own cleaning schedule will make them grow into more responsible adults.
So make a schedule for their cleaning times before they grow up and clutter becomes a bad habit. At the very least, cleaning just once a week is not too hard for your kids to manage. Check up on them at the end of the day to be sure they stick to the schedule.
Then if that fails, resort to the garbage bag trick as stated above.
Assign a Place for Everything
Regardless of how old your kids are, if you choose a place for their stuff, you will not have to worry about where it goes in their rooms. You can use bins or boxes to help organize things so they will have better-organized rooms. Some bins are made for under the bed storage, too.
If selecting clothes to wear is a problem, you may want to invest in a small set of drawers that you label for Monday through Friday items, sports, or special classes that they are enrolled in.
By doing this you will not have to hear, “Mom! Where’s my…” because they will know where to find it. Once they get used to being responsible for cleaning their own rooms, it will become a habit. (It takes about 21 days to form a new habit to form, so be patient.).
Don’t Nag
If you’re already having a hard time with their cleaning, nagging will only make things worse. It’s a very negative approach which will discourage the children. As tough as it is to resist, try your best to be nice. You can even role play if you want to see what they would do if they were in charge.
Just remember as a parent, you need to teach them skills that they will need as adults. When they learn to clean at a young age, they are able to quickly clean up after themselves as adults.
Hire a Home Cleaning Service
Home cleaning services are professional cleaning services that have trained staff to clean in an environmentally safe and effective manner. These professionals have deep cleaning services to take care of your deep (spring/fall) cleaning needs. Hire a trusted house cleaning service so you can relax and know that your home cleaning needs are taken care of.
If you are not getting a personal recommendation, then you should read the customer’s reviews before choosing one to be sure that they can be trusted. Then you can make an appointment with them based on the schedule that you want, so you can sit back and relax while they do the work, giving you a healthy, clean home, not just for your kid’s room, but for the whole house!
