Why Kids Need to Keep Their Bedrooms Clean

Instills Responsibility

• Keeping one's bedroom clean is a lesson in accountability and organization. If you swoop into your child's bedroom and make his bed, put his toys away and pick up his dirty laundry, you're sending the message that you'll take care of everything for him. This does little to teach him how to take care of and be responsible for his own space. According to the PsychCentral website, failing to teach your child how to clean up his own room also fails to prepare him for the real world. In other words, if your child doesn't take proper care of his own bedroom, chances are when he's older, he isn't going to be prepared to handle other personal responsibilities.

Prevents Accidents

• A messy room increases the risk that your child will hurt himself. Your child might trip over a pile of toys in the middle of the floor or slip and hit his head. A cluttered room where nothing is put away also increases the risk that your child's things could break, which poses a new set of hazards. For example, if a picture frame or lamp gets pushed off the dresser when your child shoves a pile of stuff on top, he could step on a shard of glass. A pile of stuff that isn't put away might also block your child's route of exit, which could be dangerous if your family needs to quickly evacuate the home, such as in the event of a fire.

Health Factors

• Not only do piles of stuff look unsightly, they can also put your child's health in jeopardy. Stacks of dirty clothes or dirty dishes can grow mildew or mold and piles of garbage are also unhealthy. Layers of dust in your child's room can exacerbate asthma and allergy symptoms, too. Spiders like to crawl into warm and dark places, such as under a pile of toys, clothes or other objects. Many types of spiders thrive in unsanitary conditions, as well, according to the Colorado State University Extension. While most spiders aren't poisonous and therefore aren't necessarily a hazard to your child's health, many do bite, which can be painful or itchy. Many children are scared of spiders and the thought of them living under their unkempt stuff might motivate them to get the room cleaned up.

Additional Reasons

• When your child's bedroom is a disaster, chances are he doesn't really want to spend any time in there. Remind your child that when he cleans his room, he has more room to spread out and play, read a book or pursue his favorite hobby. When things are picked up and put away, it's also easier for your child to quickly find what he's looking for. Children who are required to keep their rooms clean also feel a sense of ownership for the space, the PyschCentral website notes. Your child should be held responsible for cleaning his bedroom so he's able to feel the sense of pride that goes along with accomplishing something. That sense of pride can motivate him to keep his room neat and tidy in the future.