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Simple Ways to Encourage Your Children to Clean

If there’s one thing no parent wants to hear, it’s the sound of their little one’s toy chest being turned upside down (and of course, this always happens just minutes after you straightened up the room yourself).

Anyone who has children knows that they’re as lovable as they are messy. And while it can sometimes be more tempting to tackle their mess yourself, teaching kids how to clean is an invaluable skill they’ll take with them the rest of their lives.

Encouraging Your Kids to Clean

Make Cleaning Fun

Ask a little kid to clean and you’ll probably find them hiding under the bed a few seconds later. But while cleaning may not be their idea of fun, having a race probably is. When it comes time to straighten up, tell your little ones they’ll be timed — the first one to put 10 toys away gets a snack or five extra minutes of TV time.

Follow a “One Out, One Away” Policy

Especially if you start teaching your children this when they’re young, you may be able to avoid walking into a messy toy room altogether! When your little one is ready to play with a new toy, ask them to put the one they’re using away first. Not only will this help them learn about organization, but it also keeps toys from getting lost or broken.

Give Them Direction

Have you ever had so much to do that you didn’t even know where to start? When children are told to clean their room, it’s easy for them to get overwhelmed and start playing because they simply don’t know what to do.

Rather than telling them to clean an entire room, give them direction — make your bed, clean up the blocks on the floor, pick up the clothes on your chair, etc. This helps them focus on one task rather than a dozen.

Set a Good Example

Kids are sponges, soaking up everything they see. If you want your little one to understand the importance of keeping a clean home, make sure they wake up every morning in a clean home that’s just waiting for memories to be made.

Leave the Deep Cleaning to Us

We think it’s safe to assume that most parents would rather spend time with their little ones than clean with them. And with regular recurring house cleanings, we can help you do just that! If you want to get started with a deep cleaning for your first visit, our team will restore order to any rooms that need special focus. 

Whether you’re looking for a weekly, biweekly, or monthly clean, call on the experts at Merry Maids®!