My kids love and dread summer vacation at the same time. They hate the ordeal of spring-cleaning their bedrooms, even though they like the results and are happy once it’s done. It’s almost that time of year again, and I can already hear, “Awwwwww, Mom, do I have to?”
Here are some tips to make things less stressful when spring cleaning children’s bedrooms:
Lighten Up
Relax. Kids are not going to do things perfectly so don’t expect it and you won’t be disappointed. Let kids turn on some of their favorite tunes (at your choice of decibels) to lighten the mood. Try letting kids work for a while, take a break, and then begin another project instead of trying to tackle the entire room at once, leaving everyone tense and exhausted. It’s even okay to take a few days to complete the room from top to bottom instead of trying to get it all done in a short period of time. A relaxed pace may in fact result in a better job being done. Try to make some of it fun and have some fun in between tasks.
Give Details
Don’t make vague statements like, “Clean your room.” Even if you say, “Clean everything from floor to ceiling,” it doesn’t really let kids know what’s expected. Give detailed lists, breaking things up into manageable projects. Show your child how to knock down cobwebs (or do it yourself). Explain to older kids how walls should be washed, if that’s on their list. Show them how to clean a window properly if you want them to do it. Instruct them in how to vacuum to avoid missing spots. Teach them how to organize like items together, and so on. List every job that needs to be done and give detailed instructions on how each one should be done.
These tips will lead to a lot less frustration and a lot more cleaning getting done in a shorter amount of time.
Kids Rooms… Scary Places or Comfy Spaces?