If you are anything like me, you might be looking for a way to help kids learn to clean their rooms. Some weeks my girls nail it, while other times… well, you know how it goes.
This simple chore becomes a hassle and a pain… for all of us. On one hand, I am of the mind that it is their room – they are allowed to keep it as they wish. After all, they are the ones that have to live in it, and it IS their stuff. On the other hand, I am the one that has to go in there to help wake them up, get stuff, gather clothes, etc. That mess? Not only is it unsightly, but it can be dangerous, as attested by the recent whole in my foot from a stray doll arm.
The realization
While talking to them about the problem, I had an epiphany. They don’t know HOW to clean their room! The moments when they did pitch in and tackle the mess were the days when I directed each of them to a separate task. Left to their own devices, however, they flounder.
Kids need to be given clear instructions on what to do and how to do it. If they do not know the expectations, how can they meet them? It seems so simple… yet not realizing this fundamental fact has left me frustrated far too many times.
The Plan
With this newfound knowledge (seriously… why did it take me SO long?) in mind, I have made a plan. We are starting with a completely clean room, done to my standards, together. All toys are in the right boxes, shoes in the right place, clothes in the right drawers, etc. Then, they have daily tasks to help KEEP it that way! Or at least somewhat that way?
I am not fooling myself into believing that their room will always be cleaned the way I want it to be… but it doesn’t need to be. Like I mentioned before, it IS their room – not mine. My only requirements are that the floor is somewhat clean and that we can find things. Mornings will go much quicker if we are not busy hunting for coats or shoes (we set out clothes the night before) – but coats are subject to change. *sigh*
The chore list I made is simple
- Make Your Bed
- Put Away Toys
- Throw Away Trash
- Put Away Clean Clothes
- Put Away Shoes
- Dirty Clothes in Hamper
How to Help Kids Learn To Clean Their Rooms
I also made a poster for their room that is going to be hanging by the door. I have laminated it, as I am a laminating fool. Don’t have a laminator? Read up on my favorite Budget Laminators here!
This is what the poster looks like:
I made it in an 8″ x 11″ size – perfect fit for my laminator, though I am probably going to end up framing this one with a cheap, dollar store frame.
Room Chore Charts
I also made Room Chore Charts to go in the room – THESE I am laminating, as I am going to reuse them again and again with a dry erase marker. They are simple daily check lists with minimal information – perfect for my young, yet literate, little ones.
While the ones I made for my house are pre-printed with just what I wanted on them, I made 9 PDF Downloads in various styles for you to use. There is one in plain black, blue, purple and rainbow. Then there are others with the same exact style, yet with either a cute Tiger, Unicorn, Flower, Toy Box or Parrot.
Here is what the Toy Box one looks like:
Interested? You can download one or ALL of them now – for FREE – along with the poster shown above. Simply subscribe below to gain instant access.
Do you want to see another type of chore chart or design? Let me know in a comment, I am busy learning and creating PDF’s – freebies I want to pass along to YOU!
Well done! This is great advice & the printable charts are fantastic!
Thank you!!
I was thinking of making a similar chart for getting ready in the morning for school. My little one gets easily sidetracked and who knows? Maybe it’ll stream line me a bit too.
That’s not a bad idea! Maybe we’ll do it too.