How to enlist your child’s help in cleaning the house
From ArticleWorld
To enlist your child’s help in cleaning the house is an excellent method of getting extra help as well as training them in cleanliness. If you ask your children to help you chances are that they will work hard towards keeping the house clean because they know the hard work that goes into it. Getting kids to help with cleaning is not easy. Besides, how much help can a parent realistically expect from a child? Then again getting children interested in housework is a sure shot way of getting them involved. The amount of housework that the children can help with depends on their age. Here are some areas which you can leave to the children to pitch in with their help.
[edit]
A few suggestions
- Toddlers should be taught the benefits of keeping their hands clean. It will keep them in good health along with helping you keeping your furniture smudge free. 3 to 5 year old kids can be taught to put away their things (toys, colors, books) and straighten their room with the help of the parent.
- Children between the ages of 5 to 9 can help around the house in a lot of small ways. Putting the trash out, dusting furniture, making their beds and taking care of pets can easily be delegated to kids of this age group. They can even help in loading and unloading dish washers, watering plants, folding clothes and making different piles.
- Children between the ages of 10 to 13 can handle most inside jobs. Washing and drying dishes, loading the washer and the dryer, cleaning and vacuuming their room and also the rooms of their younger siblings, preparing simple meals for themselves, and clearing up afterwards.
- Children of ages 14 to 17 can handle most jobs that an adult can, except ones that involve taking decisions.
[edit]
Do’s
- Always praise the children for all the work that they have done.
- Keep the younger children working along with you so as to keep an eye on them and also to help when they need.
[edit]
Don’ts
- Don’t find too many mistakes in your children’s work and discourage them.
- Don’t push small children beyond a point because they are bound to get tired easily.