Make a set time for cleaning up a room is a great way to keep them moving. If you’re going to be heading out the door soon, a 2-Minute Tidy may be just enough to get a few things put away quickly. A 5 or 10 Minute Tidy would usually be enough to clean up a bedroom or playroom but gives the child a definite ending for the task that they can see. Use a timer they can see in the room they are cleaning and make it like a game. Setting a reward (see Marble System) for accomplishing the goal in the time allowed is a great motivator.
You can even have a 30 min or 60 min Tidy for the whole house and involve the whole family. This allows the parents to set a good example and let the kids see that they aren’t the only ones with chores. Turn on some music and make it fun. Give the heavy and high chores to parents or older siblings and assign age appropriate tasks to the kiddos. They can dust, dust mop, vacuum and pick up the various toys, books, video games and other clutter that accumulates during the week, even if they aren’t the ones who left it out. What a concept! A reward for the whole family like a trip to the park, the movies, or a favorite lunch spot will help keep the focus for the Tidy Hour.
Tags: children, chores, clean, clean house, clutter, family, house, keep room clean, kids, pick up toys, tidy, tidykidz, time to clean
