How to Help a Messy Child Clean Up

Many parents are left slack-jawed in amazement at the messes their little ones can accumulate. Just because you brought them into the world doesn't mean you have to spend your life picking up their trails of debris. Help your children clean by showing them how to do it themselves. They might whine and complain in the beginning, but, if you remain consistent, they will get the hang of it -- and you'll be free to clean your own messes.

Instructions

    • 1

      Be proactive with your child and designate a spot for all of his belongings. Often, children are messy because they aren̵7;t sure where to put their things away. If you have a specific spot designated for each of your child̵7;s belongings, cleaning up will be much easier. This principle applies to toys and books, as well as clothes (both clean and dirty), shoes and outerwear.

    • 2

      Show your child where everything goes. Help her clean up at first to show her the ropes; after he gets the hang of things, fall back a bit and let her take over. You aren̵7;t doing her any favors by doing it for her. One of most effective ways to teach your child any skill is to let him do it himself. This will also help her build her confidence once she realizes what a good job she can do on her own.

    • 3

      Instruct your child to clean his room regularly, especially if he has a habit of being messy. Create a consistent cleaning routine that your child executes at the same time every day, like after dinner or just before bedtime. Explain that, if he cleans his room daily, the mess won̵7;t have a chance to get out of control.

    • 4

      Make it a game. Kids can feel overwhelmed if they have a lot to do and too much time to do it, as their minds are easily distracted. Help set boundaries in which your child can thrive. Set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes and tell her that she has to beat the buzzer. This might help motivate her to clean every day, as cleaning up will take much longer than 20 minutes otherwise.

    • 5

      Minimize his clutter. If you notice your child isn̵7;t playing with some of his toys regularly, pack them away in storage or donate them to a day care center or needy child. The same goes for shoes and clothes that have fallen out of favor or out of season.

    • 6

      Lead by example. You can̵7;t expect your child to clean up his messes if you don̵7;t clean up your own. Practice what you preach.

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