5 Simple Ways To Get Your Kids To Clean Up

As a busy mom, our to-dos often seem never-ending. We are always running from one activity to the next and trying to get multiple things done at the same time. While also trying to keep our husbands and our kids happy and healthy. All of this takes planning, routine, effort, and our family working as a team.

From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Ephesians 4:17 (ESV)

I know that as moms we have a lot on our plates and often take the lead in running our homes. Yet, it does not mean we should be doing it all alone. Your family is a team that should work together, especially when it comes to keeping your house clean.

Trying to keep your house in order and clean in the midst of all your busyness is no easy task. So it is important that you get and keep your kids involved with keeping your home clean and cleaning up after themselves. Getting your kids to clean is not an easy task either. As a mom of 3 girls, I know what a struggle it can be. Yet, it can be done and here are 5 simple ways to get your kids to clean today.

{This post may contain affiliate links, which means the blog makes a small commission at no extra cost to you.}

1. Turn Up The Jams

I don’t know about you, but for me, music can make anything more fun. Our kids often feel the same way. Having music on also makes it hard to sit still. So while the music is pumping, your kids can be moving to the beat while cleaning up.

My girls love music and one of their favorite stations on Amazon Prime music is Kidz Bop. They get to hear their favorite songs and sing along while getting things done. A win-win!

2. Set A Timer

Cleaning can seem like something that can take FOREVER and is not the most fun thing to do, especially for our kids. So to make things go quickly and to make sure your kids do not lose steam, set a timer.

This way your kids know they will not be cleaning forever and it will be over before they know it.

My girls love playing beat the timer when there is only a small amount or area to clean up. However, if there is a large amount or larger area for your kids to clean, you can break the time up and put dance party breaks in-between. For example, set the timer for 10 minutes for cleaning and then set for 3-5 minutes for dance party time. This keeps everybody moving, focused, and having fun.

These are all tricks that I often do for myself as well. I have found myself actually getting more things done when I am focused, trying to beat the clock, and jamming to my favorite tunes.

3. Break Things Into Small Pieces

As much as we all love having a clean and orderly, having the time or the energy to clean everything from top to bottom is just not always reality. So breaking the house into different spaces often makes the most sense for us and the same applies to our kids.

So instead of having your kids clean an entire room at once, break into smaller pieces. If your kid’s room needs to be cleaned, have them set a timer and start with their bed. Then they can take a break and come back to clean their floor or dresser after a certain amount of time.

This has worked wonders for my girls, especially my twins. They would often be overwhelmed with all that needed to be done and start complaining before even starting to clean. Now that I give them an area to clean at a time it seems more manageable and less overwhelming.

Also if you have kids that share a room, like mine, make sure you give them different areas or things to clean up at first. This gets them moving, feeling accomplished when they finish their area, and minimizes the arguments between them.

4. You Clean Up With Them

No one wants to be the only one doing “work”. So while your kids are cleaning up, you take the time to clean up as well. This makes them feel like you are all a part of a team that is in charge of keeping your house clean and in order, which is true.

While also allowing you to check one more thing off your to-do list. Another win-win!

5. Make It A Routine

It is so much easier to keep things clean than to have to clean up things. So getting kids to clean is something that should not be a rare occurrence, but a part of our or their routine. This reinforces that your family is a team and it is everyone’s responsibility to maintain a clean and orderly home.

This also helps to keep our kids from having to spend so much time on their school-free days cleaning.

In parenting and in life, we all have to pick our battles wisely, so getting our kids to clean should not be one of them. So with these 5 simple tips, we can get our kids to clean, not just clean today but make it a part of everyday life.

I’d love to hear about any tips or tricks you use
to get your kids to clean in the comments!