by Zoe Trudeaux

Created on: May 13, 2008

Make house-cleaning a family affair by incorporating playfulness into your cleaning routines. Children love to play and they hate to clean, but that does not mean you can not get them to clean. It just means you have to be creative and encouraging to get them to do chores. Then they are happy, the house stays orderly and you are happy.

FOR YOUNG CHILDREN (2-5):

Young children thrive on routine, so have them help you with your daily chores. They will begin to think of cleaning as a part of the daily routine, instead of something they only have to do when you make them. Do not expect perfection from your little ones and encourage their efforts. Here are some ideas to make cleaning fun for small children:

1. Play "house"

Children love playing "house." They are always in a hurry to grow up and be like Mommy and Daddy. Take advantage of this by making them feel "big" when they clean. Have young children start by helping you with things like laundry and dusting. They will love sorting out the colors and helping to load the washer and dryer. Get them their own lambswool duster and let them dust the furniture.

2. Give them their own cleaning supplies.

Put cleaning solutions, like mild floor cleaners and window cleaners, in a spray bottle and label it with their name. Kids love spraying things. Consider purchasing miniature cleaning tools, (like vacuums, brooms, and mops) so that your little one can do the big jobs with you. Store all their safe, non-toxic cleaning supplies in an easy to reach area.

3. Designate a kid drawer.

Designate a drawer or cupboard that holds unbreakable plates, silverware, and cups. That way, your child can help set the table.

FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN (6-10):

As your kids gets older, they tend to resist doing chores. Hopefully, you have already instilled a work ethic by keeping cleaning routines. If not, give them three chores that are exclusively theirs to do, and switch it up every week. Let them choose which three they will do for each week and let them to know when they do a good job. Have them help with other household chores, but make it fun. Here are some ideas:

1. Turn up the music.

Have a nightly cleaning routine, where your kids pick up their toys and put their dirty clothes in the laundry area. To make it fun, put on a CD and play a two songs. Whoever is done when the song is over wins.

2. Turn up the music louder and dance!

School-age kids love it when you make a fool of yourself, so turn up the tunes and do silly dances with them. Then get back to work, with a smile on your face.

3. Let them choose dinner once a week.

Help your child to cook a special meal once a week. Teach them the safety rules of the kitchen and help them to follow the recipes.

FOR OLDER CHILDREN (10 AND BEYOND):

It is important to teach older children to value a job well done. They need to know how it feels to work hard, and how to be proud of their accomplishments as they master real-life skills.

1. Have bonding time once in a while.

Work along side your child. Use your time together as a bonding experience. Doing chores together, like yard work or even folding laundry, is a good time for older children to talk about anything that has been bothering them.

2. Let them cook.

Let them cook a whole meal by themselves once or twice a week. Let them pick out their own recipe books and allow them to write out an ingredient list for a special recipe.

Cleaning is a part of life and the earlier children learn that, the easier it will be to get chores done. Instill cleaning habits in your children at an early age by making cleaning as fun as possible. Give your children more responsibility as they get older, and let them make choices. With a little imagination and a little playfulness, cleaning can be fun!

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