Spring Cleaning with Your Kids

It's time to say goodbye to the winter grime and hello to springtime. The time for a thorough cleaning is here again, but we don't have to send the kids away to get the job done.

I’ve had a crash course in living with a teenager. About a year ago, a girlfriend of mine and her two sons came to live with us. One boy is turning eleven in May and the other one is turning seventeen in April.

It's interesting to see the differences in cleaning attitudes between the teenager and the three other children in the house. My daughter, bless her heart, still seems to think that chores and cleaning projects are exciting and new opportunities to play a game.
She is a very good helper; on the other hand, let’s just say my teenager and other two boys in the house are not as enthusiastic. But regardless of whether or not children are trying to help me, I always find myself thinking: This would be done so much better and faster had I just done it myself.

Daily chores are hard enough, let alone spring cleaning. And although it may be quicker and easier to do it ourselves, there are some valuable benefits to getting our kids involved in the cleaning.

Engaging them in this effort teaches them some fundamental life skills. Cleaning is a part of healthy living and it also builds self-esteem. Children can learn that a parent believes in them, and that they can do something to contribute and add value to the family. Research has shown that having household jobs increases a child's sense of resiliency.
Contributing in rituals, like a yearly spring cleaning can also build a sense of social responsibility. The family unit is a community and part of living and belonging to a community is to contribute to it.

Nobody wants to be sentenced to cleaning the bathroom on their own. Establishing a sense of teamwork while taking on spring cleaning can help you work more quickly and more happily. For a parent and five-year-old, tasks can be divided to make the work cooperative and more fun than punishment. For instance, one might polish the bathroom fixtures while the other cleans the toilet bowl. And cooperation and teamwork are invaluable lessons.

No parent enjoys nagging, threatening, or hollering to get kids to do chores. So, instead of using your voice, post a list of the days jobs, or write them out on index cards. Pair off the younger kids with a parent and let the older kids work independently if they like. Each team can choose a job from the list or stack of index cards until all the jobs are done. Try mixing up the cards and treating the tasks like a lottery.

Picking the right music can make cleaning much more enjoyable. Playing upbeat music keeps spirits high and dust cloths moving. Let each helper choose his or her tunes throughout the day to give everyone some sense of ownership of the process.
Yes, bribery is certainly an option. Give the kids something they want if they do something you want. For example: If the windows are all clean and sparkling by 11:30 a.m., then we’ll go to the movies. Make sure the projects are something you really want done like window cleaning, cleaning out a closet, sorting through a toy box, etc. And when the kids do a good job, make sure to show your verbal appreciation for a job well done in addition to whatever reward you've set up.

Kids love to compete, so capitalize on this and let each choose a room or cleaning project from a list you’ve prepared. The one who does the best job (not the fastest) wins a prize, and perhaps bragging rights.

Last but not least, when you set-up the garage sale, tell the kids that they can keep the proceeds of whatever they sell of their own that is no longer used, but still in good condition. You may be surprised how quickly toys, clothes or other things that are no longer used will be sorted out for the sale. The thought of some extra cash to fill their pockets at the end of the process can be a great motivator to clean.

It's easy to be overwhelmed and unsure of where to start with your spring cleaning, so try breaking it up into small manageable bits by assigning just three tasks to each weekend.

Whether you decide to get it done in one day, a weekend, a month, or longer, don’t underestimate what your kids can do. Get the whole family involved and get your spring cleaning done in no time and hopefully without too many frustrations.