You’ve threatened, cajoled – even begged your kids to tidy up. But it still seems you’re the one facing the ultimatum: either ignore the mess or do it for them.
Here are 7 tips to encourage kids to clean their bedrooms, without raising your voice or losing your mind:
I am THAT girl. You know – the one who, at 9 years old, crafted potpourri, took a keen interest in sewing Little House on the Prairie dresses and staged elaborate dinner parties that should have been playdates. Better than almost any playground or TV show, though, was laundry day. Yes, I am fully serious. Bright white linen napkins hung on a clothesline or the smell of fresh, wet laundry out of a machine still give me excited palpitations. My boys love helping to fold warm laundry. (They still need instruction on keeping clothes off the floor, however).
In order for you to even manage lip gloss in the morning, and get to wash your face at night, the little ankle-biters must pitch in somehow (or even get used to the idea). They may hang up their coat upside down and look like Justin Bieber after brushing their hair the wrong way, but it’s a start. And a little praise can go along way.
Toddlers love to pitch in and help around the house, so what better way to get them started on the right foot in life than by giving them their first chore chart?