5 Brilliant Tips For Spring Cleaning With Kids

The terms ‘cleaning’ and ‘children’ seem wildly at odds. As any mother will attest, cleaning with kids in the house is like hovering in a hurricane. It’s not going to happen. Even the most determined of parents balk at the idea of having to spring clean with their kids around. Usually, this feat is done when they are safely cocooned at their grandparents for the evening. Heaven forbid you should get rid of broken toys! All in all, the mere notion of spring cleaning with kids in the house is enough to send even the hardiest of mothers into a cold sweat.

What if I told you there were five ways that your home could clean, and you could get the kids to help? Well, there is:

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1.    Teamwork

Whether you like it or not, you are going to have to form part of a kick-ass cleaning team. Get the children interested in chores by making it fun. You could have medals for the cleanest rooms and so forth. Explain that you want them to clean their rooms and that you want them to get rid of their old toys. You can donate the toys to charity and explain to your children the importance of doing this. Not only do you get a clean home, but you are also instilling the importance of helping others. Your children will feel great, and your home will look fabulous.

2.    Be Less ‘Parental’

Kids, funnily enough, have a rather annoying habit of tuning out the sound of their parents’ voice. Yes, kids we are on to you! With this in mind, you will need to change tack. Barking orders to clean their room and spring clean their stuff is not going to help. In fact, it will hinder the process. Try to take the ‘mom’ out of your voice. This will motivate and encourage them to spring clean.

3.    Media Motivators

Who doesn’t love cleaning to music? Whack on the iPod and make sure that you are dancing around with your Dyson DC40. Time will go quickly, and the kids will have more fun in the process.

4.    Divide and Conquer

Dividing tasks is imperative to this situation. You need to ensure that you have a list of jobs. You can turn this into a chart. You can put stickers on the chart when the jobs have been done. This ensures that your children feel that they are part of something grown up and important. In reality, you’re making them clean. They don’t need to know that. Visual aids and job delegation is critical to your spring clean. Even just getting them to sort out their rooms while you tidy yours will help. Turn a dull task into something fun.

5.    Reward Their Hard work

No one wants to put their child through five years hard labour. Who really wants to be cleaning the house? No one. Once all of the jobs have been done, it may be time to relax with the kids. Reward them for their hard work. Incentivise hard work. This will be a great treat for them but also a valuable life lesson.