It’s almost time to start this year’s spring cleaning. Have you considered getting the kids involved this year? Try these ideas to turn spring cleaning into a fun kid centered activity:
It’s almost like nesting… for a house.
The birds are chirping, grass is turning green, the flowers are blooming… and the house is waiting for a good spring cleaning.
And it’s not just for the kids. Don’t let them watch TV while you get the house in ship shape. Instead, have them join in.
What's in this post...
Pump Up the Jams
Kids don’t naturally equate cleaning to fun…
So, pump up the jams and get it done. Playing some kids bob music (or something with some fun beats) can be a great way to motivate everyone in the house.
When something is enjoyable, it’s more likely to go smoother.
Do you have a fun cleaning playlist? I would love to hear it!
Check off critical household, social, and hygiene skills for your child so they’re prepared (not petrified) of growing up!
“I’m Following the Leader….”
“The leader, the leader. I’m following the leader wherever she may go.”
Tackle one room at a time with your little helper. You can get mini versions of what you’ve got…
- a mini broom and dustpan
- spray bottle with water and vinegar & a rag
- dusting tools
Let your little one work alongside you. He or she can have so much fun copying what they see you doing.
These checklists include all the tasks that need to be done in various rooms so that your little one can use pictures or text to help them complete a group of chores in one area.
Learn MoreMake It About Learning
It’s often times easier to just do it that to explain every step of the way…
However, are little ones really learning if we do everything for them?
I recommend taking the time to teach some valuable cleaning life skills. Will they do it as well as you? I doubt it. Will they be as efficient as you? No, way. However, they will learn and you will have some bonding time.
Check out my post on real chores that preschoolers and toddlers can do and get started with some help for spring cleaning this year.
Out with the Old & In With the New
Understanding that everything has a place is key when it comes to staying clean and organized. There’s no age too young to learn this concept. When spaces are cluttered and messy, things get lost and it’s not very fun.
Spring cleaning is a great time to re-evaluate the space your kids are utilizing in their rooms.
In fact, some kids love to organize.
Kids can have so much fun during spring cleaning! They can organize their personal spaces. They can spruce up their play areas. It can be a blast…
It’s not always “fun” getting rid of older toys (or trash) that builds up in their spaces. However, this process can be a great life skill.
The first step to getting rid of chaos is to simplify, simplify, simplify. This guide can help.
Learn MoreChoose Age Appropriate Chores & Routines
It just simply isn’t going to work (and it’s no fun) when chores are too advance for little ones.
That being said, choose some age appropriate chores for kids to do for spring cleaning. It makes all the difference.
One way to be sure chores are working according to age is to choose a routine that works for you. When we do our spring cleaning, I pass out chore cards and everyone gets busy with their assignment.
Get 101+ chore cards to help your little one build life skills, confidence, and their hard work muscles.
Learn MoreUse Timers
Timers are a great way to challenge and motivate kids into cleaning. You know what I’m talking about? Those old school cooking timers? You can use those for sure. Kids come spinning the dial and counting how long they have to get the job done.
You could also use some updated timers like:
- Cartoon dinosaur spinning timer
- Magnetis squirrel and acorn timer
- Cat catching fish timer
- Pizza slice visual timer
- Sea animal visual timer
Get your timer out and start the countdown. Watch as the kids scramble to get the job done. It’s satisfying and is great if you’re in a time crunch.
Practice Sorting
Sorting is a great life skill for little ones to practice. You can make spring cleaning fun by creating some fun opportunities for kids to sort.
Here are some fun things to sort:
- Toys into the right baskets or on shelves
- Books by size or category
- Shoes or Jackets by the entry ways
- Cooking utensils
- Markers, crayons, or other art supplies
- Pantry items (non perishables)
- Winter clothes/summer clothes
- Socks
Getting a sorting project for kids will require a bit pf planning. You may want to prepare the space ahead of time and set some guidelines. Remember that baskets are the organized moms best friend.
Check off critical household, social, and hygiene skills for your child so they’re prepared (not petrified) of growing up!
Have A Scavenger Hunt
We love having scavenger hunts. It’s a lot of fun and the kids usually have a blast.
Why not turn spring cleaning into a fun scavenger hunt?
You can make a list of things that kids need to find- such as 5 broken toys, one bag of trash, three books to give away, etc.
What is the prize at the end?
Make this as detailed or as simple as what works for your kids age or needs.
These checklists include all the tasks that need to be done in various rooms so that your little one can use pictures or text to help them complete a group of chores in one area.
Learn MoreThe Great Sock Hunt
One of the funniest things I’ve heard recently is that socks go into the wash as pairs, and come out as mix matched Tupperware lids.
Wait… maybe that’s just how it is at my house.
A unique spring cleaning idea is to let the kids work on their sock collection. It can be a challenge to make sure they are:
- all clean,
- matched, and
- in their proper place
Make it fun by letting the kids make sock puppets from their socks without pairs.
Check off critical household, social, and hygiene skills for your child so they’re prepared (not petrified) of growing up!
Up-Cycle
Turning old things into useful tools is a great thing to do for spring cleaning. Plus, it feels good to “get rid” of the old.
Here are some east up-cycle ideas:
- tin cans (painted) into colorful planters
- glass bottles (mason or spaghetti jars) into decor
- old bath towels into rags for cleaning
- outdated window into chalk message board
- broken baskets into storage for cleaning supplies
It’s very satisfying to take something worth nothing, and turn it into something of value. There’s just something about seeing that lends itself to this creativity.
Get 101+ chore cards to help your little one build life skills, confidence, and their hard work muscles.
Learn MoreGive, Donate, or Share
I like to keep things simple.
However, it can be hard when the kids have so many toys, books, games, etc. This is one reason why I like to build our dress up clothes stash instead of buying more toys.
Spring cleaning is a great time to teach the life skills involved in giving, donating, or sharing their unused (and still valuable) toys.
When kids participate in choosing what to donate, they are building character and their decision making skills. There’s also a great feeling of generosity that kids develop when they admit that it’s time to pass something along.
Be sure not to let them give away things that are broken or useless. Those things are for the trash. However, turn it into a fun learning experience.
Also, giving, donating, and sharing are great ways to boost gratitude.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are general age ranges that specific chores are appropriate for but each child is different. You can gauge if a chore is appropriate for your child by if they can do it independently after you have taught and coached them a few times. If you’ve trained them how and they still can’t do it, it might be too difficult for them.
Start by explaining why donating toys is beneficial for them and for the child who receives it. It can be helpful to have a visual representation for how many things they can keep – like “you can keep as many stuffed animals that fit in this basket” – so they understand the limit and make their choices accordingly.
Kids love to get their hands dirty, so I would have them help with gardening, lawn care, washing cars, cleaning out the garage, etc. The same principles in this blog post applies to cleaning outside too!
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