Lifestyle

The 5 Aspects to Involving Kids with Cleaning

It’s easy to see chores like the cleaning and washing as
something separate to activities and time with the kids, whether they’re at a
young age and need lots of fun activities and attention, or they’re older
teenagers now doing their own things.
In actual fact though, you can bring these together, and
actually involve your kids and children in say your cleaning. There are lots of
mutual benefits; you have help at hand, the kids have a focused activity, you
end up having lots of fun, and you develop really important family ties.
The secret is to get the right balance and scenarios for
doing this, so it is something that children want to do and actually end up
enjoying. 
So here are 5 different aspects to consider in order to encourage
kids getting involved with cleaning in particular:
1.      
The Right Context: Make sure the cleaning
activity is enjoyable for each individual child – ideally linked to their
interest and passions. So for kids who love, for example, football, then maybe
focus on clearing the rear garden and yard to play football later. For those
into craft, cleaning the dining room or bedroom where they prepare crafts. Also,
remember other non-home contexts like the car, or community groups and
charities or schools you’re involved with, and even your work place.

2.      
The Right Challenge: Kids love a challenge; a
clear to-do, with some kind of reward afterwards like a piece of chocolate. The
clearer the better, so tasks like “to clean their bedroom back to what it was
before”, or help you for 15 minutes cleaning the kitchen. Time limits are also
good, so maybe 5 minute challenges, and making a big thing of starting and
stopping the stop watch. Involving a group is also really good, maybe as a
relay or team effort or competition! 
3.      
The Right Circumstances: You really need a good
back-drop to encourage the kids into the tasks at hand and to carry on to the
bitter end and actually enjoy, not giving up halfway when they get bored. Music
is great at this, something upbeat and they can sing along to. General encouragement
and interaction with them is also good, having a laugh when things aren’t maybe
done correctly, and saying what a great job they do when it is done well.
4.      
The Right Clear-Up: Remember the aftermath to
clear up, including placing cleaning items back correctly. The cleaning itself
can also be based on clearing up after people, such as a de-clutter at the
weekend, or after an activity. Also this can include preparing for things, so
for example with craft items and maybe a shopping trip, and even getting kids
to plan and list what is needed and develop organisational skills. 
5.      
The Right Checks. Finally remember to make sure
you keep things correctly checked, including from a safety perspective.
Carefully select cleaning items and equipment that are safe for them, even a
simple long-handled brush or mop can easily be tripped over and suddenly become
a fighting implement between rival siblings if not monitored. It’s often good
to keep things simple, so a basic dry-cloth or duster to wipe around, and
helping an adult with the vacuum cleaner rather than leaving them to their own
devices or asking them to re-stock shelves and cupboards.
Once you get the five angles clarified, you’re then well on
your way to involving the kids, and actually having lots of fun in the process!
For other cleaning tips and tricks, Easy Cleaners have a regular
blog covering all kinds of cleaning in the home and work place. 

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