how do you get the kids to keep the house clean?

Question

i have tried everything to do far as to keep my house clean but they do not help what so ever i will clean and so as they are home from school or out of school they mess it all over again

Answer 1

Try giving them a surprise gift or a gift or cooking their favorite food.

I do this all the time. It is working. My daughter asks for a sticker if she helps me with cleaning house or folding cloths or brooming kitchen while i am vacuuming etc. (actually, she volunteers by her self)

My son.... either he wants a dollar or his favorite dish. He volunteers for cooking. He likes to cut tomatoes/onions and peeling potatoes.

Oh Yeah.... bribing always works. But i don't like it.


NO, Stacey, Sorry. I am not telling to bribe the kids. When we are being strict and setting rules if they don't listen to us.... we also have to give them rewards when they listen and obey us. This is what i think. And applying it too.

To be frank, until last year, i was always setting rules, giving them time-outs, like that. But this year, as my son came to 6th grade (he used to go to his father and complains him about how strict i am and so on), i have changed my self a little bit and decreased the time outs and started giving rewards whenever he does something nice. He will get a reward of a "Buy-Lunch" at school, or cooking a dish that he likes very much.

Answer 2

don't fret...you just have to lay some new ground rules and let them know there will be consequences to not following them. Once they get home from school, they are to do chores, finish homework, until that is done, there is no friend time, no play time, no computer time, etc. write a schedule of who has to do what and make a check list. This tells them you are serious about what you expect. Once they first get over it,,,,kids are rebellious in nature about change, but once they get over the fact that things changed, they will actually like how they keep stuff clean and come to appreciate things more. This is something they will then follow on through life. The whole trick to this actually working is you though. You have to be consistent with the rules and consequences everytime your rules aren't followed. I wouldn't bribe, cuz then when kids get older, what are you teaching them? They will try to bribe anyone to do anything.....that means they don't respect what they are being taught or even respect you for that matter. I do believe as kids get older, they do get an allowance for good behavior, etc. however they should be taught that cleaning is an automatic thing that needs to be done, like bathing and brushing teeth.

Answer 3

Depending on how old your children are you can always arrange chore cards/list.. That way each child knows what he/she is responsible for on a weekly/monthly basis ! Children AND husbands need to be told what to do or it will NOT get done...

Also, there needs to be consequences for if a scheduled task is not completed by your children... Like no television or night out with friends...

I have a 1 yr. and a 3 yr. old and they know that BEFORE bathtime/bedtime that they are in charge along with my husband to clean up any toys in the livingroom/bedroom(s)... Also, my husband knows that while I'm at work that he is responsible for any mess that is made in the evening.. So, good luck...

Answer 4

Before they can bring out new toy or activity,the old one has to be put away. try going maybe two days w/out cleaning after them(it will probably drive u nuts) but see how well the kids like living in "a dirty house". Good luck,Robin