Do you find it’s easier to clean the house yourself, than it is to ask the kids to help clean up? Teaching kids to clean up after themselves is no easy task. But is important to do, so that we raise responsible children. It starts at such an early age when we teach our children to pick up their toys and place them into the toy box. Just as we think our kids have it down pat, they become teenagers and we have to start teaching them all over again. Bigger kids make bigger messes, and teenagers are lazy… believe me… I know it all too well. Do you have messy kids in your house too?
Teaching kids to clean up after themselves can be easier with these simple tips:
Set up your home for easy clean up. Make sure that there is a designated place for things to go. You might need to invest in some storage bins to set this up. Have plenty of cleaning supplies such as Bounty DuraTowels readily available.
Set an example. Use the tell, show, do method to teach kids to clean. Start out by assigning chores, then show your children how to properly do it, then let them clean. Children often mimic what their parents do, so you’ll lead by example when you keep a clean house.
Make cleaning fun. If you always have a scowl on your face when you clean, your children will pick up on that – so have a cheerful attitude about cleaning. With younger children, you can make a game of it by seeing how many toys can be picked up before the timer goes off. Older kids and teens might respond to listening to energizing music while they are cleaning.
Be firm. Be confident in telling your kids to help out. Also, set and enforce consequences. If kids get away without cleaning up at an early age, it will be more difficult to get them cleaning when they are teenagers.
Bounty DuraTowel
Kids are always going to make messes, and it’s always going to be a challenge for us moms to teach them how to clean up after themselves, but my family has discovered that having the right tools to clean is very important. I am a huge fan of Bounty DuraTowels. They are thicker and stronger than other paper towels we have used in the past, and quickly soak up wet messes. They provide a good barrier between your hand and the mess. My nieces love to prepare their own snacks, and are learning to cook. They love baking, and decorating cakes or cookies which can get pretty messy at times. Thankfully, Bounty is up to the task!
After a single day’s use a dishcloth can harbor millions of germs. Bounty DuraTowel leaves surfaces three times cleaner than a used dishcloth,* so ditch the dishcloth and switch to new DuraTowel.
*1 tsp. spaghetti sauce, 10 mls. coffee, 1/8 tsp. creamer on laminate countertop
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Bounty via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Bounty.
You are absolutely correct about keeping a positive attitude while cleaning! My parents always hated cleaning, and it really rubbed off on my sister and I!
Positive attitude hmmm? My husband loves to clean, I hate it. Maybe I’ll just show her how positively happy his cleaning makes me and him! LOL
LOL That just might work!
I am so guilty of just doing the cleaning because I know I’ll do it right and quicker. Yes, I need to do better. Great tips. Thanks for sharing!
We work on this CONSTANTLY! It doesn’t help that I’ve spoiled them for far too long!
We use these towels all the time as my kids make such a mess!
I have a teenager and yes – the messes are bigger – I am convinced he pretends he doesn’t se us cleaning – LOL – great tips!
These are some really great tips! I think that keeping a positive attitude is key to anything! Thanks for sharing! =)
I am all for teaching my kids to clean up after themselves. As I type this my 5 year old announced, I just spilled my hot chocolate! That means he is cleaning it up now!
I agree with you about setting a good example – my mom always made us clean, every weekend. I hated it but now I feel like I can keep a pretty clean house.
Great tips! My kids are pretty good at leaning up… especially the 3 year old {surprisingly}!