Did you know the average American spends about six hours cleaning weekly? This is probably why developing cleaning habits for kids is difficult cos not every kid would want to spend all that time cleaning. But given how important cleaning is, getting kids to adopt these habits on time is necessary.

Children are very impressionable, and what you teach them at a young age will stick with them throughout their lives. When you develop cleaning habits for kids, especially at a young age, they are more likely to succeed in their academic, professional, and social pursuits. This is because it allows them to cultivate a lasting sense of mastery, responsibility, and self-reliance. An added advantage is the fact that your chores would be easier to handle, and your home won’t be left looking messy as often.

As the cleaning experts here, we’ve got just the right tips that will help you get your little darlings involved in the cleaning at home.

The Benefits Of Teaching Kids To Clean

1. Responsibility and Accountability: Teaching kids to clean up fosters responsibility and accountability. They learn that actions have consequences, grooming an early sense of responsibility that extends to other areas of their lives.
2. Health and Hygiene Awareness: Cleaning instills hygiene habits that reduce the risk of illnesses, promoting overall well-being. This early understanding leads to a lifetime of healthier choices.
3. Self-Esteem and Confidence: Completing cleaning tasks boosts self-esteem and confidence. It shows children they can positively contribute to their environment, enhancing their self-worth. Increased self-esteem can positively impact social interactions and academics.
4. Time Management Skills: Kids who allocate time for cleaning develop valuable time management skills. They learn to balance responsibilities and prepare for academic and career challenges. These skills lead to greater efficiency and productivity.
5. Organization Skills: Cleaning fosters organization. Tidy personal spaces lead to improved organization skills that benefit academics and daily life. These skills prepare children for adult responsibilities, reducing stress and increasing the possibility of success.

How To Cultivate Cleaning Habits For Kids

1. Lead By Example

Parental role modeling is the first way to go. Kids learn from what they see and hear in their environment and that’s why parental role modeling is important. If you have poor cleaning habits, your children will most likely copy you. The same is the case if you exhibit good cleaning habits by maintaining a clean home.

And in a home where you’re setting a good example by cleaning regularly, involving the kids in the routine is just natural. This will turn your daily and weekly cleaning into a family activity.

2. Create A Kid-Friendly Cleaning Environment

Almost every cleaning product has “Keep away from children” boldly written on it. This might discourage you from including them in your regular cleaning tasks. You can easily avert any accidents by using child-safe cleaning supplies. Although this doesn’t rule out necessary supervision, Incorporating DIY cleaning products that use non-toxic ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, etc., is a great way to protect your children.

Additionally, getting accessible cleaning tools for your kids will get them excited to join you in cleaning. You can buy child-sized caddies, mops, brooms, buckets, and dusters. And for your cute little toddler that might want to join in the dusting, you could put socks on their hands and give them an item to clean.

3. Make Cleaning Fun

Convert chores into cleaning games and challenges for your children to get them excited about cleaning. Some cleaning games for kids include seeing who can do the most in a limited time, or you could place clues to a prize in strategic (and messy!) places for your little ones to find after they clean. You might need to get creative, but trust us when we say that these games will increase the chances that your kids don’t run from cleanups.

Also consider incorporating music and dancing while cleaning. Upbeat music causes your brain to release dopamine, which is a pleasure chemical. Cleaning with music, therefore, gets you and your kids revved up and gives you the necessary motivation to get the work done.

4. Set Age-Appropriate Expectations

Kids at any age can help with chores. The key is to find age-appropriate chores for them. A few examples include:

1. Toddlers: They can put their toys away, help load the washer, place clothing in a hamper, fill up a dog or cat’s food bowl, etc.
2. Preschoolers: Make their bed without supervision, dust with a cloth, sort laundry, put away clean utensils, help clear the table, etc.
3. Primary Schoolers: Sweep floors, help a parent prepare dinner, fold and put away the laundry, wipe down counters, clean their bedroom, etc.
4. Middle Schoolers: Take out the trash, do the dishes (with or without the dishwasher), use the washer and dryer to do the laundry, etc.
5. High Schoolers: Clean the windows, mow the lawn, iron clothes, clean the bathroom, babysit younger siblings for short periods, etc.

When you’ve gotten your kids acquainted to these chores, don’t forget to be consistent in assigning the chores to them from time to time. Consistency in chores matters a lot. It motivates your kids, enables them to get better, and also makes them accountable. Arrange appropriate cleaning routines for kids. This way they learn what to do and when to do it, thus enforcing cleaning as a habit.

5. Always Recognize Their Efforts 

We all love to be rewarded. Creating reward systems for kids motivates them to clean. You could decide to pair it with an activity that they enjoy such as going to the park or you could give them a treat afterwards. This makes them look forward to cleaning and even encourages them to go faster.

6. Teach Them Purpose and Responsibility

Always discuss the “why” of cleaning with your kids to help them realize its importance. This way, they don’t see it as a tedious affair but as something necessary for their well-being. It ultimately leads to them cleaning without you telling them to do so.

Teaching accountability is also necessary. It instills in them a sense of right and wrong even when no one is watching. It also teaches them to take responsibility for their actions.

Handling Resistance And Challenges

Despite your best efforts, your children might resist the values you’re trying to instill in them. Addressing resistance in kids is a journey and can often pose a challenge. Here are some tips we have for when you’re faced with such;

1. Be empathetic.
2. Be specific in giving chores. Replace “Clean your room” with “Pick your clothes up from the floor and put them in the hamper.”
3. Employ the Grandma’s rule by pairing their chores with an activity that they like. 
4. Ensure the tasks are small and doable, making the kid more open to the idea of cleaning. Leaving chores to stockpile discourages your kids because they become overwhelming.

Conclusion

Creating children's cleaning routines can be relatively simple. All you need to do is make it fun, lead by example, employ positive reinforcement, and teach responsibility and accountability.

Don’t forget that beginning to instill good cleaning practices at a young age is vital as this sets them up for present and future success.