How to Get Your Children to Help with Housework

If you have kids it may seem like your home is always a mess. Are shoes, backpacks, coats, and other items constantly strewn throughout your home? When it comes to getting your children to clean up after themselves and help out with housework, it can be a very difficult getting them to pitch in. Making a chore schedule and being consistent will definitely help get your children to give you a hand when it comes to housework. Here are some tips that will help you come up with a creative plan to teach your children how to clean, and help out around the house.

Are you still picking up after your 3 or 4 year old? Stop it right now! Even if you have small children they can still be great helpers, and pick up their toys and clothing after themselves. If you are cleaning up after any child older than 3 you will play maid until they move out, and they will never learn how to clean. Starting your children young with housework will help you avoid lots of stress later on when your children get older. If you have several children you can split the tasks accordingly.

Before you even make a cleaning schedule or assign duties to any of your children you need to set some rules.

• The house must stay clean.
• Keep your bedroom and bathroom clean.
• Everyone does their chores.

You must be consistent, do not bend any of the rules. Your children will cry and plead with you not to do their chores but you must not let them get out of it. If it helps offer them a small allowance for keeping things clean during the week. Just don't make empty promises because children are smart, and they will stop cleaning if they don't get what you promised. You don't have to be a drill sergeant, but you must stick to the rules.

A common rule in most households, "if you make a mess, you clean it up" should be followed in your home as well. When your children come home from sports or school in the afternoon they should hang up their jacket and take their backpack to their room, or another place where they do homework. Shoes that are taken off should be put away, as well as other clothing like sweatshirts, hats, scarves, and gloves.

Keeping Bedrooms Clean