Celebrating Mother’s Day: Tips to Get Your Kids Involved in Cleaning the House

Celebrating Mother’s Day is the perfect time to show appreciation for everything your mom does. While flowers and gifts are always appreciated, one of the best ways to make her day memorable is by helping clean the house.

Tidying up after everyone else can often feel like a never-ending task. So why not get the kids to help do some cleaning this Mother’s Day? Not only will it lighten the load, but it’s also an excellent opportunity to teach responsibility and teamwork to your children.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

Use Age-Appropriate Tasks

When assigning tasks to kids, make sure they are age-appropriate and safe.

Simple tasks can be a great way to involve the little kids, while older kids can handle more complex tasks. This not only helps out Mom but teaches them valuable life skills and gives them a sense of accomplishment.

For Toddlers (Ages 2-3):
Start early by encouraging toddlers to put toys back in their place after play time or to wipe a table with a damp cloth. These simple tasks help them feel involved and lay the groundwork for more responsibilities as they grow.

For Young Kids (Ages 4-7):
Kids in this age group can handle light dusting, clearing tables, and picking up clothes. Assign them regular places in the house where they’re responsible for maintaining order.

Pre-Teens (Ages 8-12):
Pre-teens can manage vacuuming, sweeping the kitchen floor, and helping with bathroom cleaning tasks. These responsibilities foster independence and prepare them for more challenging tasks.

Teenagers:
Encourage teenagers to take on significant household duties such as kitchen cleanup duties, managing their own laundry, or even doing yard work or mowing the lawn. These tasks teach skills they’ll use in adulthood while lightening the load on parents.

Create Routines

Kids thrive on routine. Some examples you can implement with them are:

• Each morning, they should fix their bed.
• After dinner, your child should bring their dishes to the sink or dishwasher.
• After homework is done, they should gather all their belongings and put them away before their daily bedtime routine.

If you stick to a routine, it will become second nature to them.

Get Kids to Help With House Cleaning by Turning Household Chores into Games

There are lots of creative ways to make cleaning fun for your kids. Here are a few ideas:

• Set a timer and challenge your kids to see who can clean up their assigned area the fastest. Or, have a race to see who can fold laundry the neatest.
• Put on some fun music for a playful atmosphere. (This will even lift your spirits while you clean, too!)
• Assign tasks to each kid and give them funny names like “Queen/King of the Kitchen” or “Master of the Living Room.” This might help kids stay motivated and become more interested in the tasks.

Create a Chore Reward Chart

Is there something your child loves to do or is saving up for?

• Create a chore chart consisting of various tasks with values assigned to them. For example, picking up all your toys after playing will count for one point, dusting counts as two points, vacuuming three, and so on. At the end of the week, tally up the points. There are even apps for chore charts available online.
• Once the child meets the point values you set, they will get their reward. They can earn money, buy a toy or game they want, or have a special time with their mom or dad. Rewards will look different for each family, but they will instill an early work ethic and help your child learn how to work toward a goal.
• The reward can be as simple as a sticker chart or allowing them to choose a movie for family movie night. This will motivate them to continue helping out with family chores in the future.

Make it a Family Affair

Cleaning together can make the task seem less daunting and more enjoyable. Chat, be silly, and laugh while you clean to make it a bonding experience for everyone. It’s another opportunity to spend time with your kids and teach them valuable skills.

Don’t “Redo” Their Work

This is a hard one for some. It is important to teach kids how to do it the “right” way through practice and encouraging their work as they do it. If you are a stickler for a particular job, take that job on yourself and let the kids work on the things they can be successful at. Over time, they will improve and can move on to the more complex chores.

Let’s Keep Celebrating Mother’s Day

While Mother’s Day may only be one designated day to celebrate our moms, it’s important to remember that they should be appreciated and celebrated every day. Keep these helpful tips in mind and continue celebrating Mother’s Day all year by involving your kids in cleaning the house. Not only does it help out mom, but it also teaches valuable life skills to the kids.

Ready to give the gift of a clean home this Mother’s Day? Contact C’s Home & Office Management for more tips or to schedule a professional cleaning session.