How to have a clean house with kids.

A messy house is all relative to the person that sees it. I can't be content when the house is messy, which means I was rarely content moving from room to room cleaning up after my 2 year old and 3 year old.

It all changed when I decided to implement a routine, or rhythm, to our day to include both kids helping to keep the house clean. 

I know you are shaking your heads... they are too small to be of any real help... however that's not true at all. My 3 year old is awesome at rinsing dishes and wiping counters. My 2 year old is great at putting things in the garbage, even if they don't belong there, and putting toys back into the appropriate room. 

Let's begin by establishing some routines around the messy times of day:

Meal time:

Any time you are in the kitchen prepping food, the kids should be helping in some way. Even very small children can help by:

• Rinsing fruits and veggies
• Setting out place mats, napkins, silverware, cups, etc.
• Wiping counters
• Sorting the clean silverware into the organizer.

You might need to change the location of some of your kitchen supplies, but doing so will help your children feel important and with enough practice, they will do this automatically for each meal.

After the meal is over, kids should be helping to clean up. 

• Rinsing utensils, plates, bowls, cups, etc.
• Wiping tables, counters, appliances, etc.
• Sweeping the floor. 
• Putting dirty napkins and towels into the dirty laundry. 

Keeping your kids busy doing kitchen tasks frees you up to load the dishwasher, attend to the bigger pots and pans, and get things back in order for the next meal.

Having your kids participate in mealtimes make kids both responsible and a functional part of a family. They feel needed and that is very important for every family member, no matter how young. Having a clean kitchen/dinning room area after each meal will make you feel accomplished too. 

Bath time:

Who says you have to hover over your kids while they are in the bath? Frankly, I find bath time pretty boring. This is the perfect time to wipe down the counters, clean the toilets, sweep the floor, or clean the mirror. Just make sure your supplies are already in the bathroom before you begin. 

Kids also need to help out. Put a squirt of dish soap in the tub when you are filling it and let the bubbles flow. Give them some sponges and scrub brushes and show them the soap scum line around the tub. They will have fun and your tub will be clean! 

I have limited our bath toys to only one basket full (it used to be 5!) and an array of bottles, scrub brushes, and sponges. They come up with all kinds of crazy scenarios while they are "cleaning" and they have way more fun than fighting over a toy duck. Try it!

Play time:

We don't have the luxury of having a playroom at the house, so the toys are limited to their bedrooms. There are no toys kept anywhere else in the house. Obviously the kids will drag and drop toys all over every room of the house, but when it's clean up time, EVERYTHING goes back into their bedrooms. 

This is the most difficult time to clean up after. Each toy they try to put away is like a new toy all over again. Use these tricks when it comes to keeping them on task:

• Clean up time should happen before naps and before bed. That way you can actually sit back and enjoy it before another toy explosion happens again.
• Never repeat an instruction. Say it once: "Put your fire truck away." If they don't do it - which they won't - start instructing them in how to do it. "Walk over to the fire truck. Yes, now bend over and pick it. Good, now walk it into your room." This is shockingly helpful. It's like they know what you want, but don't know how to do it. Or if your kids are older, they will probably not want you to talk to them like they are 3 years old. I don't know... report back.
• Clean up song. Pick a song that you all like and play it every time you want to clean up all the toys. It will be a fun way to enjoy that time together. However eventually you will need to change it because they will probably start to dread hearing that song.
• When you are done cleaning up smile at your kids and tell them how great the house looks. They should feel proud that they have helped to make it look so nice. 

The other stuff:

Laundry - I have to include this because none of us are immune to the dreaded laundry. Having kids means 1-2 loads a day to stay on top of everything. 

Very young kids can help match socks, fold wash cloths, hand towels, or napkins. They can put clothes away in drawers and they can sort lights and darks. Have them help, but if you start getting frustrated change activities. I have tried to let my 3 year old fold hand towels and I just can't do it. (Why can't she match the corners?!)  So I keep trying every few months and eventually she will get it. 

Outdoor play - As a person that hates messes, I really can't stand dirt and sand all over the house. We have outdoor toys that are not allowed in the house. We "park" the bikes in the "garage" when we are done playing with them, which is just a designated space outside.

This will take a lot more time out of your day, but having a good routine worked into cleaning that includes your children will make you a whole lot happier and it will groom your kids to be self sufficient one day and proud of accomplishing the little things.

Make no mistake... there are days I just can't find the energy to do any cleaning. There are days that the kids are helping prep dinner and I am pouring a glass of wine to ease the stress from the day. This is just a guideline to help you get some control over your house again. Do what feels right, but know that the more consistent you are, the less you have to do. Eventually your kids will know what they are supposed to do and they will do it with just a little guidance from you.

More to follow. I highly recommend Simplicity Parenting which is a wonderful guide for creating a less anxious, stress-free lifestyle.