9 Ways To Teach Young Kids The Value Of Cleaning Up

hero-4
Young kid with a cloth wiping a surface

9 Ways To Teach Young Kids The Value Of Cleaning Up

By : Kate Windle
Children are messy and usually leave the house in disarray, which is why parents with small children often struggle to keep their homes neat and tidy. But, when you have kids at home, maintaining the house’s hygiene and cleaning it regularly is essential.

Cleaning up after your kids gets exhausting and frustrating, making you less productive and unable to focus on other household chores. However, there are practical solutions for keeping your house neat and tidy without doing it yourself. You can hire professionals via a reputed company offering deep cleaning solutions and reliable bond cleaning service in Sydney.

Alternatively, teach your kids how to clean after themselves and contribute to keeping the house mess-free. Here is a complete guide outlining why teaching kids to clean is important and nine ways to teach them the value of cleaning.

Why is Teaching Kids to Clean Important?


According to data by ABS National Health Survey 2017–18, it was reported that the leading chronic health conditions in children between the ages of 0-14 years were asthma (9.3% – 11%), hay fever(10%), and allergic rhinitis (10%).

While these conditions can be caused by birth defects, compromised immunity, obesity etc., other reasons that aggravate or cause these problems include poor hygiene and lack of proper cleanliness. Thus people hire bond cleaners in Sydney to keep their surroundings neat and tidy.

Children need a sanitary environment to thrive and grow which is why in addition to keeping the house clean, it is important you teach them to look after themselves. Teaching your kids to clean and maintain their surroundings is a positive step towards ensuring they remain healthy, have strong immunity, and don’t fall sick repeatedly.

Ways You Can Encourage Your Kids To Clean


If parents are proactive and help their kids inculcate good habits, children as young as three years can learn the value of cleaning. Here are nine ways you can teach your kids the value of cleaning up.

1. Lead by Example


Children imbibe good habits from their parents, and if they see you clean and keep the house neat, they will follow your lead. Let your child know how cleaning works by demonstrating various tasks such as dusting, decluttering, washing, sweeping, mopping etc. Tangible results will help them understand sanitising makes a difference.

2. Find Ways to Let them Help


You children may be small, but they can still help. While performing a house cleaning chore, let your child watch and ask for their assistance. You can get them to fold clothes, wipe surfaces, dust small areas, pick toys, and do many other chores. The more you involve them, the more they will be interested in various cleaning activities.

3. Don’t Ask them to Clean as Punishment


Parents often ask kids to clean their room, pick up toys, or throw garbage as punishment. However, cleaning activities should not be associated with negative emotions by your child. Instead, make cleaning rewarding for your kids. Whenever they complete a task, reward them with praise, appreciation, or by doing something your kid likes.

4. Tell them Why Cleaning is Important


You can verbally tell your children the benefits of keeping the house clean and mess-free. Teach them about bacteria, viruses, and other germs present on different surfaces and objects of the house.

Additionally, teach how they can make them sick and what they can do to remove the germs. Professional bond cleaning companies in Sydney clean as well as disinfect the surfaces which is why you must hire them for the sanitisation of the house regularly. The regular routine will help kids understand the importance of sanitation.

5. Let them Choose their Cleaning Activity


Your child doesn’t like folding clothes? You can give him/her multiple choices to avoid activities from becoming burdens. Let your child choose the activity they like and complete that one before moving on to other chores.

6. Keep Things Simple


Don’t complicate cleaning and sanitising for children. Instead, simplify tasks and start small to keep them interested. Children have shorter attention and focus spans than adults, and if they are given lengthy or complicated cleaning chores, they lose interest fast.

7. Help Children Associate Cleaning with Fun


Children may not grow up to understand the value of cleaning if it isn’t interesting or exciting for them. Therefore, to help your child clean and understand its importance, make cleaning activities fun. Ask every family member to clean with them, play music, cook their favourite meals after cleaning, and do other things to make it enjoyable for them.

8. Get Them To Complete Cleaning Chores Within A Stipulated Time


Children are competitive which you can use to your advantage by giving them a timeline to finish a cleaning chore. Use your phone or a clock to set a timer and ask them to do a task before the buzzer goes off. Compete with them to make the process fun and more rewarding for them.

9. Teach Them Importance of Cleaning for Others


Besides encouraging your child to clean for themselves, make them understand how their contribution helps other household members too.

For instance, you can tell your child how dusting removes dust, dust-mites, dirt, and other contaminants from a surface, making the indoor air better, not just for them but also for mom and dad. When kids know that their contribution helps their loved ones, they are more inclined towards helping and learning.

Wrapping Up


Keeping your home neat and tidy is challenging, but using the different ways mentioned above can keep it clean and sanitary with your children’s assistance. Your children can contribute to regular cleaning whenever necessary, you can hire professionals from a trusted company offering carpet cleaning, deep cleaning, and bond cleaning solutions in Sydney, among others.