How to Motivate Kids to Clean Up

This article is so NOT from an expert because my kids are genetically imprinted to leave their things on every…flat…surface in the house (it’s from the paternal side). Backpack here. Sweater there. Toys and erasers and shoes everywhere! (I fear for the teen years quite frankly). However, there are some bribes, games, ultimatums er, I mean strategies for motivating kids to clean up.

MAKE THE BASICS A ROUTINE
After school, backpacks have to be put in the backpack spot. Jackets hung in the jacket spot. Lunch bags put in the lunch bag spot. (They put their backpacks, jackets and lunch bags in their respective places everyday at school so there is no reason to expect a parent to do it for them at home).

Nothing happens until these basics are done No snack. No fun time. No next activity. Basics first. Choose your own basics that make your everyday clean up routine and stick to the rule that these basics need your child’s attention. (The motivation? A full-stop on the day’s progress, until the basics are done, is motivation to get them over with to move on to the next activity).

TIDY UP SONGS
Great for toddlers and pre-schoolers – singing a tidy up song can be motivational and entertaining. The best song I’ve heard is sung to the melody of London Bridge is Falling Down:

“Now’s the time to tidy up, move your butts, move your butts
Now’s the time to tidy up, MOVE YOUR BUTTS.”

Ok – not eloquent but the first time my kids heard it (at a playdate) they burst into laughter as they cleaned with their friends. TIP: Google “Tidy Up Song” for more song choices.

TIME STARTS NOW!
Timing your kids to clean is a good tool to motivate. Kids love beating the clock. A sand timer or kitchen timer work well. A minute for every year (i.e. if your child is 7 years old – put 7 minutes on the clock).

PICK YOUR SURFACE
Cleaning a whole bedroom can be daunting to kids. Give them some motivation by having them choose just ONE surface to clean today (i.e. the floor, the bookshelf, the desk, etc…). The motivation? One small area to clean is easier than the whole room.

JOB JAR
Write a series of kid cleaning jobs on individual papers and place them in a jar. Designate one day a week to the job jar. On that day, your child closes their eyes and picks a job – which they have to do no matter what – no give backs! Kid cleaning jobs can range from arranging shoes in the hallway to tidying up the toy box.

I’d love to hear your comments on how you motivate kids to clean up (really I would!). Everyone has a different way to do it but all ways should be respectful and positive (that includes no name calling. Read: No saying “You PIG!”). Cleaning up is a life skill kids need to learn. It also helps them learn decision-making, organization and priority setting. I’m no expert on kids cleaning…but I’m working on it.

About the Author Writer/Mother/sock finder/Blogger/laundress/Community Editor/mitten matcher/Researcher/nose wiper/buzz creator/Moderator/whatever... Posted by Caroline in cleaning on May 23, 2010 More from this author  |  Author Website

Comments  

 

0 # SeemaM 2010-05-26 02:50

I love your ideas, Caroline, especially the Tidy Up song! I'll try that next time. Reading this article is timely, as my 3 year old son just went to the neighbour's place for a playdate because he doesn't have to clean up there, but has to at home!

I have another idea I use for cleaning up with several kids - especially at the end of a party. I tell them all that the kid that picks up the last toy wins a prize, so they all madly scurry to clean up all the toys, hoping they'll each get the last toy. At the end, I typically end up giving them all a prize (while denoting the "winner") to show my appreciation for their efforts. The "prize" is usually a small treat. This works wonders!

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0 # Rosebelle 2010-05-27 09:41

My 9 year old is the slob among my three kids. My teenage son has always been very neat and organized even when he was a toddler, he'd put away his toys after playing with them. My 5 year old is picking up her sister's messy habits. Some days, the girls are good at putting things where they belong and some days, they leave behind a path of destruction...that they have to clean up before dinner. The rule is 'Clean Up Before 6'. So far, so good.

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