Keep only what you really need in areas of your home like the kitchen, the living room, and the bedroom. Allow for some empty space. Minimize knick-knacks and decorations. If you do use them, put them out of reach of kids. Simplify your children’s toy collections. Kids can get by with only a few special toys. Try to keep only a few toys out at a time, and encourage kids to use their imagination to play.
Be firm about this rule. Young children may take awhile to get used to a new routine, so gently remind them about picking up their toys. [4] X Expert Source Kylee MoneyParenting Consultant Expert Interview. 21 May 2021. Say something like, “You know you can’t get your action figures out until you put away your Legos. " Avoid cleaning up for your child. You want to make sure a child understands responsibility. You can help a child clean, especially if they are very young, but make sure the child does some of the work on their own. You can make exceptions to this rule in certain situations, however. If a child is working on something, like a Lego statue or a drawing, consider permitting them to leave some of the toys out as long as they’re out of the way. For example, maybe a child could push a partially made Lego statue to the side of the room, and put any loose Legos back in the box. Also, keep in mind some toys may come in sets. For example, your child may have a collection of action figures he or she plays with together. If your child has sets of toys, consider allowing him or her to have one type of toy out at a time.
You can also have your child eat meals and snacks over a vinyl tablecloth. Young children can get messy with food, and this can help contain crumbs and spills. Make sure you teach your kids about proper, safe use of art supplies. Make sure they know not to eat or drink craft materials. You should also make sure kids wash their hands carefully after playing with things like paint and playdough. Supervise your kids when they’re using art supplies. Toddlers may draw on walls for fun, so it may be a bad idea to leave them alone with crayons or markers.
Tell children a few minutes before clean-up time is about to begin. Set a timer to help your child finish playing and prepare to clean up. Keep age in mind as you plan your routine. Younger children, between the ages of 24 and 36 months, can do small tasks like putting away toys. You can set a timer to help the kids understand when the chore needs to be completed. [6] X Research source As children get older, they’re able to have daily chores that should be done based on activities. For example, you can have them always put dirty clothes in the hamper and dirty dishes in the sink. You can also have them do things like fill the dog or cat’s water bowl when they see it’s empty. [7] X Research source
Sing a song as you clean. Some classic songs include “Clean up Song” by the Laura Berkner Band or “Clean Up” by Barney. [9] X Research source Play make believe. Kids around 5 and 6 years old may respond to make-believe. Encourage your kids to pretend while cleaning. You can have your kid, for example, pretend they are running a house cleaning company. Encourage your child to make up a name for his or her company. [10] X Research source Think of fun challenges. For example, try to get your kids to pick up all the items on the floor by the end of a certain song. If you’re working with more than one kid, have a clean up competition. Whoever finishes cleaning his or her room first gets a prize. Very young children may respond well to the “color game. " You can instruct your child to pick up all the items off the floor that are a specific color. Then, name another color. Slowly, toys will get put away.
Let your children decorate their own rooms. Allow them to put up posters, stickers, and arrange furniture and toys in a way they like. If a child likes the way their room looks, that child will have motivation to keep that space clean. Allow your kids to feel like the larger house is their home as well. Allow your kids to hang up their art work around the house, for example, and give them some say in decorating. Praise kids for cleaning up. Encourage them to admire how nice a space looks when it’s free of clutter, dirty clothing, and other messy items.
Assign chores based on age. Very young children, such as preschool-aged children, may lack the motor skills to do things like make beds. Assign making the beds each morning to a child in elementary or middle school. Try to find a way to make chores kid-friendly. Young children, around the age of 3, may struggle to figure out things like sweeping. You can purchase a child-sized broom at a department store. If your child does not understand the concept of sweeping dirt into a pile, you can place masking tape in a square on the floor. Instruct your child to sweep all the dirt into this space. [14] X Research source You can find ways to make the chore chart fun. For example, if a child does all their chores for a week, you can assign a medal. Medals can be traded in for prizes like money, new toys, or trips to fun places around town.
You can use wooden baby gates, which you can buy at most department stores, to block off certain areas of your home. You can put a baby gate up between the kitchen and living room, for example, to keep your kids from getting into kitchen supplies. Use rubber bands or childproof locks to block off certain draws in your home. Keep certain doors closed at all times. If you don’t want your kids in your bedroom, for example, simply keep that door shut. Young children and toddlers are often unable to open doors on their own.
