7 Tips for Keeping a Clean House with Young Children
Having child(ren) and at the same time having a clean house is often thought of as an impossibility. These 7 tips are practical and do-able. We know, we’ve tried them.
1. Downsize the toy collection. When new toys come in send old ones out. Less toys available for play equals simpler messes to clean. Children who are less overstimulated tend to be more pleasant anyway. They also enjoy and appreciate their toys more. Don’t be afraid to throw stuff away or bring it to the second hand shop. Another good idea is to put some of the toys away and rotate through them, changing them every few weeks for variety.
2. Involve your children in food preparation and cleanup. Always clean up from meals immediately after eating. Teach the children to do their part, working with them, and even singing together to make it a joyful experience. Keep dishes in a low cabinet so that small children can help set the table and put away dishes. It may take longer with the children helping, but they won’t be off making a mess somewhere else in the house. It will also create an atmosphere of teamwork, and the children will feel that they have an important role in the family
3. Consolidate junk drawers and junk closets. Limit yourself to one each. If it gets overfull then get rid of stuff. If you’re not using it and haven’t in a long time, it’s probably time to get rid of it. If you keep junk drawers to a minimum then they are less likely to overflow onto your counters and tabletops.
4. Minimize odds and ends. If you have a lot of trinkets and odds and ends, consider putting some of them away while your children are small. While kids are playing freely in the house, they tend to scatter things all over the place. The less objects there are, the less scattering.
5. Take time to teach good habits. Teach your children good habits of putting their clothes away or in the laundry basket. It may take time and patience before they learn to do it without reminders, but the time gained once they learn outweighs the time spent in training. Moms need to practice these habits before teaching their children.
6. Play clean up games. Get involved in cleanup time and find ways to make it fun. The kids will enjoy the time that mom spends on their level “playing” or helping, even if it’s just cleanup time in disguise.
7. Don’t let the laundry pile up. Put in one load a day in the morning. Set aside fifteen minutes a day for folding that load. It will be quick and simple and never look overwhelming. If you must go to the laundry mat, let laundry folding be a family effort and tackle it with your kids as a team. Even my 18 month old can help put away socks and underwear.
Which of these seem most do-able for you? Do you have any others that didn’t make the list?
Having child(ren) and at the same time having a clean house is often thought of as an impossibility. These 7 tips are practical and do-able. We know, we’ve tried them.
1. Downsize the toy collection. When new toys come in send old ones out. Less toys available for play equals simpler messes to clean. Children who are less overstimulated tend to be more pleasant anyway. They also enjoy and appreciate their toys more. Don’t be afraid to throw stuff away or bring it to the second hand shop. Another good idea is to put some of the toys away and rotate through them, changing them every few weeks for variety.
2. Involve your children in food preparation and cleanup. Always clean up from meals immediately after eating. Teach the children to do their part, working with them, and even singing together to make it a joyful experience. Keep dishes in a low cabinet so that small children can help set the table and put away dishes. It may take longer with the children helping, but they won’t be off making a mess somewhere else in the house. It will also create an atmosphere of teamwork, and the children will feel that they have an important role in the family
3. Consolidate junk drawers and junk closets. Limit yourself to one each. If it gets overfull then get rid of stuff. If you’re not using it and haven’t in a long time, it’s probably time to get rid of it. If you keep junk drawers to a minimum then they are less likely to overflow onto your counters and tabletops.
4. Minimize odds and ends. If you have a lot of trinkets and odds and ends, consider putting some of them away while your children are small. While kids are playing freely in the house, they tend to scatter things all over the place. The less objects there are, the less scattering.
5. Take time to teach good habits. Teach your children good habits of putting their clothes away or in the laundry basket. It may take time and patience before they learn to do it without reminders, but the time gained once they learn outweighs the time spent in training. Moms need to practice these habits before teaching their children.
6. Play clean up games. Get involved in cleanup time and find ways to make it fun. The kids will enjoy the time that mom spends on their level “playing” or helping, even if it’s just cleanup time in disguise.
7. Don’t let the laundry pile up. Put in one load a day in the morning. Set aside fifteen minutes a day for folding that load. It will be quick and simple and never look overwhelming. If you must go to the laundry mat, let laundry folding be a family effort and tackle it with your kids as a team. Even my 18 month old can help put away socks and underwear.
Which of these seem most do-able for you? Do you have any others that didn’t make the list?
Posted: November 5th, 2009 under Home.
Tags: Children, Home