People always tell me how amazed they are at how clean my house is...and yes, I have 3 kids...and yes, I clean it myself, meaning there is no magic fairy or Genie stopping by to wave her wand or wiggle her nose to help. It is just me, little old me.
Well, I have to admit, now that the kids are getting older, I do expect them to start helping out. I have learned to become very creative when it comes to setting up chores for them. When they were younger though, it was more about keeping them occupied while I clean. Goodness knows, having a 2 year old scrub something is not only completely unsafe, but likely a waste of time in having to redo it anyway.
Still, I have learned that kids can help out...even if it means handing them a spray bottle with plain water and a clean cloth. It's as basic as that. While a 2 year old needs occupying so that the parent can get something done, a 4 and 7 year old; however, can really help out. Here are some tips and tricks to how I get the job done.
1. Have multiple locations for your supplies. No kidding, while I am in the upstairs bathroom while they are bathing...I can at least clean and wash down the sinks, toilets and dust shelves. They are happily splashing in the tub while I am charging down the bacteria in the other areas. So at all times I leave a bottle of Windex, paper towels, clean rags and a basic bleach cleaner on the top shelf in the linen closet. It's just always there as a double set of supplies. Easy access, easy to put away.
2. If I do need to have a kid helping me in the bathroom...they get tub or shower duty. I let them take all the shampoo bottles and soaps out (which actually I always leave in a plastic basket with a handle anyway so it is easy to remove). I never ask them to move razors though. I give them a spray bottle with a little liquid soap (like hand soap) and a clean rag and they get started washing down basins. It at least keeps them busy while do the heavy duty stuff. Again, be cautious of the chemicals you use if your kids are in there, open windows if necessary.
3. Cleaning other rooms is pretty basic. Laundry baskets are king in my house. I have 3 extra laundry baskets...those simple plastic round ones. Plop these babies down in the middle of a crazy messed up room and let the kids help sort. One basket is for things that go back upstairs, one for things that get put away in other places and then one for the rest.
Once you get the sorting done, blast the music...tell the kids to start dancing and grab your duster and vacuum. Did you know you could dust while dancing? Yes, I have learned to dance my way around my family room dusting as fast as possible. The kids think I am dancing with them. It's fun...good workout too.
Next, I tell the kids it is time to play freeze vacuum. They are to dance around, but have to freeze as soon as the sounds of the vacuum stops. I change up the tempo of my stopping and starting so that they get confused. It is definitely one way to keep the kids focused and not running all over while you are vacuuming. Of course it takes longer, but so what, you are keeping them busy so they are not making another mess in the room you already cleaned. It is much easier to keep an eye on them when you can make it fun.
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