How To Get Kids To Clean Up – Without Complaining!

Kids Chores How To Hacks Tips Children Cleaning Thrifdeedubai

 

Let the battles commence! Chores & cleaning up is probably THE number one cause of family/sibling feuds but it doesn’t need to be!
Check out these tried & tested hacks for getting them off their rears & helping!

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The secret to getting your kids to clean up every single time –

Is to operate like a teacher! My years working in schools & studying teaching taught me a few magic tricks (behavior management) & classroom strategies.
Little did I know these same tools would be a great asset in the future home…. especially with a 6yr old like mine!!

Classroom behavior strategies are something of magic! They enable a teacher to control the children using simple steps, such as clapping hands, singing or doing a specific gesture that triggers the kids to do their required job! – Awesome right? Now, unless you’ve worked in a school, you’re most probably not going to be familiar with behavior management tricks, but don’t worry! That’s why I’m here!

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How does a teacher manage this every single day & how this can be applied at home?

The secret is in the sauce! You simply need to apply yourself & oversee what is happening & lend a helping hand & words of encouragement here & there. Obviously, this isn’t as easy at home as it is in the classroom. The reason is we don’t have a set schedule at home usually, unless we’re leaving the house or getting ready for bedtime. But, it can be done!!

Stuff you’ll need to do –
  • Label storage areas if you want toys to stay separate & explain to the kids where things need to go.
  • Remind yourself to give them warning. For example, “We need to leave in 15 minutes. Let’s start our clean up.”
  • Oversee their clean up & help them until the routine becomes really established.

Tips
1. Discuss the value of why they should help out.

You need to talk to kids about how important it is to contribute to the household when you’re in a family. Talk about different ways they can help out & what you do for the family as a parent too.

2. Don’t ask! – State your expectations for clean up.

When I ask my kids to do something they don’t want to do, the majority of the time their answer is, “No.” Instead, I state, “It’s time to clean up, please.” If they say no, I clarify that it wasn’t a question & that it needs to be done.

3. For younger ones make cleaning up & helping a game. Some effective ones –
  • Musical statues clear up – Clean up to music & freeze once the music stops
  • Beat The Clock! -Set a timer & tell the kids they must finish cleanup before time is up. When the timer rings, they must freeze!
  • Race – I will announce what I have to do & what I expect them to do. Then we race to see who wins.
  • Simon Says – Give commands such as, “Simon says put the crayons into their containers” or “Pick up the blocks.”
  • The Bribing Game – Before beginning cleanup, look around the room & pick out an item that needs to be put away. Announce to the kids that you have chosen a mystery item & that whoever puts it away will win a prize.
4. Work together.

A request as simple as, “Clean up your toys,” can seem overwhelming to a child. When they don’t want to clean up, Work together with them & model the behavior you want to see. It is much more effective than repeating yourself endlessly & nothing getting done.

5. Avoid using, “You took it out. You put it away,” as a reason they should clean up.

This one is hard for me. I’m trying to avoid doing it is because I’ve had it used against me. Specifically, my kids will say, “But he/ she did it,” when I’ve asked them to clean up. Part of being a family is working together regardless of the source of the mess.

6. Say, ‘Yes’ when they ask to help.

It can be more stress & mess to cook, fold laundry & clean the bathroom when the kids want to join in the ‘fun.’ But you can adjust what you’re doing to accommodate their desire to help. For instance, I let my daughter peel & wash vegetables. I also get her to put the folded clothes in her drawers or do some dusting, she loves it because she gets to use my –
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7. Use chore charts with pictures.

Chore charts act as wonderful cues for what a younger child should do. Simply saying, “Clean up,” don’t always work because the child doesn’t know where to start. Illustrated chore charts make cleaning up & helping out so much easier & gives them incentive to work towards goals!

Hey there! What tips do you have to lessen the complaining & get more chores done by the kids & get them helping around the home?
Let me know in the comments below & don’t forget to share!!

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10 Comments

    • 22/09/2018 / 1:42 am

      LOL The boyfriend may work…. not too sure about the cat though, they can be kinda stubborn sometimes 😛

  1. 20/09/2018 / 7:09 pm

    interesting article i do use some of those trick with my nephew

  2. 20/09/2018 / 4:55 pm

    I love these. If you make chores fun for kids and explain why we do them it makes life a lot easier. I’m a big advocate for not asking either. You are a part of the family, and have responsibilities like everyone else.

    • 22/09/2018 / 1:41 am

      My thoughts exactly. Thanks for reading!

  3. 20/09/2018 / 8:30 am

    Nnniiicceeeeee….parenting ought to become easier with this list! Thank you, Aisha for sharing.

    Much love.

  4. 20/09/2018 / 5:03 am

    Haha I’m an adult (no children here yet!) and some of these things still work on me! Only I do it with myself haha

    • 20/09/2018 / 12:47 pm

      Well I agree, these can work with adults too…. housework is always more fun with a few games & some music pumpin’ to help! 😀

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