How do I get kids to help clean up?

Answer 1

There are thousands of ways, but the age of the children in question is the deciding factor on which method to use. Can you please provide the ages of the children you are wanting to help? In the event that you do not provide any additional information, here are some ideas based on the age ranges.

Toddlers - Even though everyone hates Barney, he has a very catchy tune (for lack of better words lol) that really gets young children up and moving. It's called "The Cleanup Song." The lyrics are very simple and go like this:

Clean up, clean up
Everybody, everywhere
Clean up, clean up
Everybody do your share

Continue to repeat the song until the area has been picked up. Here is a clip from YouTube of a mom and her daughter dancing to the song. This will let you hear the actual rhythm of the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz-3Kxx3EQY

Children 5-8 y/o - Make it a game! See who can clean up the fastest. If the game doesn't go well as is, then try adding 1 small piece of candy for a prize. Whoever gets their area cleaned up the fastest gets the candy.

Children 9-12 y/o - At this age, children do understand that if something is messy, it needs to be cleaned up. A kind reminder to pick up every now and again isn't a big deal, but if they don't do their share then they will forfeit something that means something to them. Every child has that one thing that means the world to them; let them know that if they don't help out then they're going to lose it. Stand your ground no matter how much they may whine.

Children 13+ - Teenagers... they are a breed of their own! lol It'll boil down to 1 of 2 things - 1.) They've managed to turn out to be responsible and helpful kids or 2.) They've rebelled and want nothing to do with the rest of the world lol It's a 50/50 bet and you just have to cross your fingers! lol

You can always stick with the plan of taking that one "special thing" away if they chose to not help out. You can also use money as a bribe. This tends to be the best way of getting kids to help out and at the same time teaches them how to EARN their way through working rather than being lazy and expecting everything to be handed to them.

I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 2

This can be a fun thing to do.....how to get them to help. Give them tokens when they clean up. Then make the tokens worth something. For example:

Clean up room = 3 tokens
Empty Diswahser = 1 token
Take out trash = 2 tokens
Vacum = 1 token


trip to mcdonalds cost 12 tokens
ice cream cost 6 tokens

you get the point.

Answer 3

Make cleaning up something fun instead of a chore. Kids will have more fun if it's like a game instead of something they were forced to do. I do that with my cousins, I turn it into a game with a few rules. They have fun and the cleaning gets done. Try not to bribe younger children because they might take advantage of it. You can offer something as a prize though.

Answer 4

I used colored clothes pins (that were worth different points) that I attached to my childs shirt and if he/she did something they were supposed to w/out talking back, I gave a certain amount of points. If the child did something they weren't supposed to I would take 3 away.

The whole point of it is to use it to catch them doing things right, so they can get points. Be very generous in giving them out. But when they've done something wrong take points away uickly and don't make a fuss. Just say "give me 5". They know why.

At the end of the day, If there were "X" amt. of points there was a prize. It can be anything CHEAP AND FREE. Like 10 minutes of playing a game with them, going for a walk together, an ice cream, ballon, bubbles, etc....

Answer 5

you have to stay on top of them and ahead of them. I find I have to switch my technique every time I want them to pick up, but the more they do it the less I have to stay on them about it. Age also figures into it but here are my suggestions:

Make a game out of it - see who can throw the most baskets or try to beat a time.

Praise them every time they help without a fuss

I did a sticker chart for my little ones recently and I swear I had someone else's kids for a bit! I give rewards for stickers (a new but inexpensive toy at the end of the week)- and 3 x's (for not listening) will void the stickers.

Sometimes it just helps if you're in there with them directing their efforts and telling them how great they're doing.

It takes a lot of patience and effort, but stick with it - it's working for me!

Don't be afraid to take toys either - they should know if they want to have nice things that they should take care of them.

Answer 6

That depends on the age of your children, If they are very young then you can make a game out of it. For instance you say " ok, for every toy you put in the toybox, you get one (cookie, ice cream, marble, etc.) and whoever has the most at the end of the cleanup wins (whatever prize).. But for older kids, you explain the fact that they must pick up after themselves or start to lose privileges such as (playstation, stereo, tv, etc)

Answer 7

I'm sixteen and the only way I'll actually clean up is if my mom isn't going down my throat about it. For some reason, it makes me mad if my mom comes in my room and yells " get off of that computer and clean your room!" It makes me think that she doesn't trust me enough to let me clean it my self. Right now, my room is clean because my mom hasn't yelled at me at all today!

Answer 8

Turn the chores into a game or a competition. You could also make them more fun to do, like making them similar to a game or sport the kids like to play (Like mopping the floor could become a game of hockey where you use mops as hockey sticks and a wet sponge as a puck).

Answer 9

Sometimes you have to sound mean. Remember kids are not in charge, adults are. If worse comes to worse offer a secret prize and don't telll them what it is. Then the winner's prize can be a hug from you, or a cookie, or something stupid;)

Answer 10

Give them a reward for helping you clean, then they'll want to clean more often!