The beginning of a new season and more daylight hours always inspires us to start spring cleaning to get a handle on the mess that’s inevitably accumulates after months indoors.
If you find yourself coming across toys kids haven’t used in years or reminding your children to pick up after themselves on a daily (or hourly!) basis, it’s definitely time to spring clean.
Here are a few fun ways to sping clean your children’s bedrooms with your children! Yes, we know. The most disorganized and messy rooms in the house. There’s no time like the present!
Here are some tips for keeping kids’ rooms tidy and getting them involved in cleaning:
1. Do it together. We know, we know. But let’s be honest. If you really want a clean bedroom then you will need to help. It can be overwhelming for kids to clean their rooms and get rid of things on their own. This way they can also learn cleaning skills, organizational skills and maybe—maybe—even a positive attitude towards keeping the clean room.
2. Do not nag. Your children will become resentful and just “tune you” out if you nag them through the process. Instead, start by writing a list—together—of what needs to be done. Children who are in charge, feel in charge, and will want to take charge. So let them decide where they want to start. Their clothes? Their toys? Their desk?
3. Be prepared. You need either bags or boxes labeled with Toss / Save / Donate. If a game is missing pieces, or markers have lost their caps, or it’s broken, it’s a toss. If they really love something – that they HAVE used within the last six months, it’s a save. Finally, toys, books, games, clothes that are still good, but your kids no longer play with, it’s a donate! (or you can visit the latest in “What the heck do I do with all these baby and toddler clothes that don’t fit, by sending them in to www.minitrade.ca, a Quebec-based website, where you can trade your pint-sized clothes for newer and bigger ones, saving some money thanks to cleaning closets.)
4. Raise your arms to the roof. With no nagging voice, there needs to be some sound. Crank up the music and let your children pick out the spring cleaning tunes. Dancing around is always fun, even while cleaning.
5. Make it a game. Help sort out what needs to be saved and what can be tossed. A cluttered desk, equals a cluttered mind. (Or so we’ve been told.) They may be sad to see things go, so make it into a competitive game! “Who can find the most markers with no lids?” “Who can find the most Lego pieces to go in the Lego box?” “Who can find anything that you don’t use?” Get a timer, even, and see how fast they will go. Kids, of course, love to win! Tell them you “bet” they can’t beat their last score! Competition is motivating.
6. Game it some more. When it comes to cleaning out clothes, bring three laundry baskets into the room, and pretend you are basketball players. One for toss / save / donate! And toss the clothes from closet to box! (Unfortunately this does mean more folding later!)
7. Set a time limit. Box up toys or clothes or books for younger siblings. Just like adults, if they haven’t played with it in a year (or even six months) explain it’s time to let go. Make sure you have a marker on hand, because you don’t want to forget what’s in those boxes!
8. Reward hard work. If there is one time to bribe, or promise a reward, this is it. They may complain, but they won’t give up for that latest video game you’ve promised. Or, after you’re done (and this could take hours), have a small party as a treat. Order that pizza, have a marathon movie night. The bigger the pay off, the more they will help!
9. Take breaks. You don’t want to get too burned out, because how will you spring clean the rest of your house…with help from your children. But that’s for another day!
10. Don’t overdo it. Your kids rooms are not army barracks, and some people are more organized than others, so be realistic about how neat and tidy your kids rooms will be after a clean-out. If one of your children is particularly attached to his belongings, don’t make this into a battle to throw things out, while he is in tears. Be flexible, and remember the aim is to clean up, not to be perfect!
