Is your child's room a mess?
When your child is sent to clean his room, does he get distracted and play instead of clean?
This is normal.
Children are often overwhelmed and do not know where to begin. When they look at a mess it is easier to get distracted and to play. Cleaning a room is a complex task. Many adults struggle too, because many were never habit-trained nor taught how to systematically clean a bedroom.
The organizational area of the brain is one of the last to develop and it develops throughout childhood. Children need to be taught the patterns of organization. It takes time. Cheerfully do it with them.
Here is an easy to follow pattern for cleaning a bedroom. One of the best ways to teach a child to clean their room is to do it with them. It is wise to work with a child on a regular systematic (same steps, same order) basis until they have this pattern down, and do it automatically as a habit. Cleaning together can build trust, improve relationships, pass on values, and build work ethic.
10 Easy Steps to Clean a Bedroom
This should be done at least once a week.
1. Make the bed.
2. Pick up all clothes. Put clean ones in folded and in their drawer or hang them in the closet on a hanger. Put dirty clothes in a hamper to be laundered.
3. Put away all projects in their storage box and place on the shelf when not in use.
4. Pick up all books and place them bindings out, in the upright position on your shelves.
5. Pick up all toys and place them where they belong. For things that go in another room, make a pile to take after you have picked up everything and put everything else away.
6. Place all trash in a trash basket. Take out trash and empty in the garbage can outside.
7. Vacuum your floor and the edges.
8. Dust shelves, the lights, dresser, baseboards and blinds.
9. Clean mirrors and windows.
10. Wipe finger prints off the walls.
The Big 5: Daily Bedroom Care
1. Make your bed, as soon as you get up. If you live in a damp climate, let the bedding air until after breakfast.
2. Neatly put clean laundry away as soon as you receive the clean laundry.
3. Place dirty laundry in a hamper, as you take it off.
4. Place trash in a trash can.
5. Put projects, books, and toys away before going on to another task or leaving to play.
These five good habits will leave their room neat during the week, when not in use, and will lessen the amount work on Saturday.
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