Spring cleaning can seem daunting when facing it alone. Why not take some creative measures and get the whole family involved? When you mention chores or cleaning to your kids, they will probably run for the hills, so turning it into something fun is the easiest way to rope them in.
This helps you out, and your children will also reap many benefits. They’ll develop higher self-esteem, become more responsible and deal with frustration better. Here are ten ways to get everyone excited about spring cleaning.
1. Go Duster Skating
Grab some dusters and let your kids “skate” around your hardwood floors. Use dusting gloves made from microfiber, which is best for picking up dust. You can even tie microfiber cloths around their knees so they can glide on all fours. Let them see who can create the biggest dust bunny.
You should ensure there are no sharp edges or breakable items in case they fall. Your kids will love this energizing game to get their hearts pumping and release some energy. Once they are done, collect the dust bunnies and throw them away.
2. Shopping for Donations
Kids get so many toys for holidays, birthdays, visits from grandparents, and more. Have your children go shopping in the playroom, but instead they’ll be filling their bag with toys to donate. Going ‘backward shopping’ makes sorting through old toys more fun.
If it is hard for a child to part with a toy, ask her when the last time was she played with it. Explain to your child how much another kid would cherish the toy and smile when having a chance to play with it. Experiencing what it feels like to donate to someone in need and the happiness it brings them, is a life lesson all on its own.
3. Play Detective in the Kitchen
Older children will enjoy a game of detective in the fridge. Sauces and condiments can be left in the refrigerator well past their expiration dates. Teach your kids how to read labels and explain the difference between sell-by, best-if-used by, and expiration dates so they don’t accidentally get rid of something that is still good.
4. Help With Yard Work
Outdoor chores can often be the best for kids, as they’ll rarely pass up the opportunity to play outside. Younger kids can help pick up sticks or trash in the yard, while teens can mow the lawn or clean out the shed. Having the kids out of the house will give you the chance to tackle tasks inside with fewer interruptions.
5. Have a Fashion Show
Your kids probably have many clothes they have outgrown in their closets. No matter how big or small they are, let them put on a fashion show to see what can stay and what has to go. You can even let your children be judges. Your younger kids can shop from their older siblings’ closets, and anything that no longer fits anyone can be donated.
6. Offer Incentives
While some parents give their kids allowances for doing chores, money isn’t the only incentive you can offer. Make cleaning a bit more fun with creative prizes. You could say the first person to put away all of their toys gets to pick what meal we have for dinner tonight.
7. Assign Specific Tasks
Telling kids to, “Clean your room,” can be overwhelming when they don’t know where to start. Instead, try creating a checklist or schedule to tell them where to start. Being able to follow a list and check items off can help keep them on track and finish one task before they start another.
8. Give Age-Appropriate Chores
This tip might seem obvious, but it’s worth reminding yourself that your kids are just that – kids. They’re going to get distracted or confused or tired throughout the cleaning process. Make sure you think about whether tasks are age-appropriate.
Telling a younger child to clean out their closet might be hard if they can’t reach the top shelf. Instead, you can have taller kids take on the top shelves of every closet, while the shorter ones clean up the floor. Here are more age-appropriate chores to pick from.
9. Pump up the Jams
Music can take the cleaning experience to a new level. You and your kids can have dance parties in between chores or let the music play while singing along. You can even play a freeze game while doing tasks. Pause the music, and they have to stop what they are doing and resume once it starts back up.
10. Make a System
Once your house is clean, you’ll want to find ways to keep it that way. If you find a strategy that works during your spring cleaning, write it down on a family chore schedule. Have the kids put on their microfiber slippers once a month, for example. Or, have each person take charge of the task they did best and set a date every month for a big family cleaning day.
If you have a cleaning system in place that everyone agrees to, you’ll spend less time arguing when it comes time to tidy.
Let the Spring Cleaning Begin
Cleaning doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Getting your kids involved in creative ways makes things easier and more fun for everyone. Plus, you get to spend quality time together while being productive and making your house sparkle. What a great way to welcome a new season.
About The Author
Cora Gold is a mother and writer who aims to connect with other moms through her experiences with navigating motherhood. Cora is the Editor-in-Chief of Revivalist magazine and writes for sites including For Every Mom, MommyBites and Playground Professionals. When she’s not writing about style and beauty for her magazine, Revivalist, she loves to share her experience with family life. Follow Cora on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
