Involve Your Kids in Spring Cleanup

Time for spring cleaning! Moms know that no matter how much work is involved, it's easier to do it yourself than to motivate and supervise help from children. However, good parenting means getting little ones involved in housework, especially since they caused most of the mess you're cleaning. Here are ten ways to motivate your children by making housecleaning fun!

Hunting for loose change. This is one idea where your child can get an actual reward and make it very exciting.  Have them clean under the seat cushions, sort through drawers, clean under the bed, anywhere they can possibly find coins.  Afterwards you can make it educational by counting the change and dividing it into types.  Naturally, if there is enough change, you can have them save the money for some future trip to the store, or put it in a savings count.  Even collect it in a jar until having enough for something special.

Expiration Date Detective. This is one for the kids that can read dates. Have them go through the items in your ice box, cupboards or pantry where you store cereals and other items with possible expiration dates. Have them find the ones that need to be thrown away. You can show them the best way to dispose of each of them. Be sure to reward them for doing a good job.

The Sorting Game. Take the mess out of your kids’ toys. Give them the kind of storage options where they can play with their games and toys as they want, then have a place to put them away later.  You can also make a game out of letting them pick out any items they’ve outgrown to be donated to the goodwill.

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