How can I get my girls to want to keep there rooms clean .?

Question

There on the lazy side, they rather play all day. They expect me to clean their room all the time but I'll do it once in a while but i told them today they needed to clean their rooms they looked like a pig pen.

My girls are 9 and 11 and when you threaten to take toys away ect , my girls get mad and they want to throw every thing away I tell them thats not exceptable they have more then enough shelf room they can, make it look neat. Im a mom I work night shift normallly I'm off this week though due to vacation. Its hard to press the issue of clean room and home work done daily

Answer 1

I don't like to brag or toot my own horn as they say, BUT,My wife and I successfully raised 9 children ( 6 boys and 3 girls) and the only thing that worked for my wife and I was the door to their room, we kept it closed, after a while they got tired of the mess, and cleaned without any prompting from us. Now they are all grown and away from home (FINALLY) and every one of them are neat freaks with their own homes,nothing is out of place. Draw your own conclusion

Answer 2

First, make a list of everything that needs to be done in order of importance (clothes off the floor, dolls in their boxes, puzzles put away, etc). If they don't read, "translate" the list into pictures. Then, set a timer for 5 minutes, and tell your girls that they need to do the things on the list. Help them while they are doing this, so you can make sure they stay on track. When the timer goes off, praise the effort and tell them they can play for 15 minutes. Repeat, repeat, repeat!!! IMake a game out of it!! Whoever picks up the most clothes, toys, etc gets to pick the next game, tv show, whatever.

The only rule is that you have to be there with them at first. Once they "get" that when Mom says 10 minutes she means 10 minutes, they will be more willing to help. Maybe institute a reward system... when i was a kid, we had a chart with stickers. When we got a certain number of stickers, we would get a prize (get to pick dinner, an extra tv show, a new coloring book, computer time, whatever). I would tie the stickers to doing a 5-10 min cleaning session in their rooms every day, making their beds, etc.

I would leave the "I'll clean it up and you won't see the toys again" as a last resort if they refuse to help. Also, check out "housefairy.com" they may respond to that.

Good luck!!

Answer 3

I would give them an incentive. Give them an allowance, whatever you decide upon, for for that allowance they must do some chores. That is keeping their room clean. On a Saturday morning, they must change their own bedding, dust, and pick up all items on the floor, sort dirty laundry, and make their bed. If they do not know how to clean, then you show them. They'll get the idea. Then when you see a change, then they will get their allowance. Also if they do not like your idea, then start taking away priviledges from them, TV, computer, electronic games. I don't know their ages, so you be the judge on what priviledges you would take away. They should start young to be neat, because as they get older, they will have good habits and as adults, they will be neat and organized. If they don't acquire good habits while young, they will be very sloppy adults.

Answer 4

Okay I have the same problem and I just started this new system and it's kinda working. I got a dry erase board and put my kids names on it and when they're good or do something good, like cleaning their room they can earn stars. I draw a star under their name and I erase it if they tell me no or fight w/ each other ect. When they get so many stars they can use them to buy something like staying up a 1/2 hour late - going to the park or a new barbie doll. The barbie is gonna cost them 50 stars - but if you do this you can do it your own way. So far this is helping - But I hate to say the cleaning of the room is still a hard thing for my kids so sometimes I tell them that I'm gonna set the timer for so many minuetes and if they get it clean in time they can get 2 starts or whatever. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Not sure there age but Id make it a rule if alls they do is play all day - tell them they cant play until they clean or that they cant take out one toy /activity till they put away the last...if that doesnt work start taking away left out items for a week or more and if they have too much stuff to begin with to where that doesnt matter then start giving there stuff to chariy - if they cant take care of there belongings maybe they dont deserve to have them ~ this is assuming were not talking about toddlers or very small children.

Answer 6

I heard this tip from someone, but then i tried it myself. It takes a lot of resolve on your part, but it IS effective. Tell the girls the ground rules first so it's fair. Tell them you will clean their room and anything not in it's proper place will be discarded or given to charity. Give them a definite and reasonable deadline. You may want to encourage them so they know you are serious, but when the deadline has passed, go in with large black trash bags and clear it out. You may want to sort the items if they are particularly meaningful to you, they go in storage. Whatever is left goes to charity. Have the girls help you load the van, and then deliver the goods.

For the items that go into storage, give them a trial period. If they successfully keep the room clean and neat, they can negotiate for one or two items. Keep doing that until the storage items are returned.

Don't go out and buy new clothes or toys to replace what you've discarded. Use gifts as rewards and for birthdays. It will be hard on you to do this, but believe me, it works. And think of the lesson they will learn balanced with the cost of the stuff you're tossing. Priceless.

Answer 7

When you make threats to kids, they know you well, and know if you're serious or not.

You need to get serious with them! Tell them if they don't do as they're told, you'll take whatever it is they enjoy, away from them for a day or whatever you decide.

The key is following through. If you don't, they know they can get away with it. Sure they might think you're turning into a mean mom, but most good moms are:)

Answer 8

how old are your girls? if you start at a younger age, it's easier. i try praising my toddler and rewarding him when he cleans up his toys or tries to help me around the house (even if he makes more work--at least he's trying!). positive rewards always work better than negative. negativity will only make them more discouraged and less likely to want to please you. offering a large reward or incentive individual to each child will inspire them to work toward a large goal (like keeping the room somewhat tidy for a month), and it would also help if you offer a smaller treat for little parts (like emptying their trash or putting away their laundry each week). don't expect too much at first, either. if they don't like to clean, you're not likely to see them become neat freaks, but they should at least give you organized clutter (dirty laundry in one pile, clean clothes in a pile, a path to walk through, or the appearance of a clean room with a closet full of junk).

Answer 9

When I was a kid I hated cleaning my room (even now I often have my husband do most of the cleaning). My mom came up with a clever way to get me to clean though. She would go in my room and hide about $10 of quarters (a lot of money back in the day) throughout the room. Then, when I wanted money, I had to clean my room to get it.

Answer 10

well incentives work with kids. When I was raising my nephews it order for them to have play time they were required to do their chores. It they continually did the chores w/o backtalk or being told then they recieved an allowance. My brothers like that and still use that for my nephews.

but there are two types of parents ones who believe allowance is a good lesson for children and then there is the opposite.

Consistancy is key though in situations like yours.