8 Ways to Trick Your Kids into Spring Cleaning

How to trick your kids into cleaning!Spring fever and nesting have joined forces at our house. That's a whole lot of cleaning folks! I'm 30 weeks pregnant now and the clock is starting to move rapidly. EEK! I'm not going to spew on how scared I am to have 4 kids, so I'll spew on how I'm going to get ready for 4 kids by passing on some more responsibility to my older kids. And the timing couldn't be more perfect, since I'm in "Operation-beef-up-my-kids-self-confidence" mode. Allowing kids to feel responsible is just what they need to feel great about themselves. And my oh my, this mama is going to need some help, so I'm seeing win/win written all over this.

I'm a fan of work and passing that important life skill onto my kids is pretty high up there on my parenting to-do list. I'm sure they think I'm a slave driver, but they'll love me for it later (or their college roommates or spouse at least will). It's no fun rooming with a slob.

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So, it's time to kick it into high gear and get my ducks in a row before I'm faced with too many sleepless nights. Luckily, my kids are at an age where they can really help around the house. I hear grumbles occasionally but I know they secretly love to help and have a clean environment to live in. They were especially excited when I let them become the "owners" of certain areas in the house. My son owns the bathroom and my daughter owns the kitchen floor. They are responsible for keeping their part of the house clean. It's great when someone spills on the floor and I hear my daughter say, "Hey! you need to clean that up!"

Ahhhh… the sound of me NOT nagging. It's beautiful.

Here are 8 ways you can trick your kids into helping you clean for spring!


Go Fish1. Go Fish
Make folding laundry and pairing socks into a game of "Go Fish." They'll forget they're working and focus on trying to find the white sock with green stripes so they can have a match.

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Send Them Home2. Send Them Home
The germs and leftover gunky toothpaste in the sink really want to go home and see their fellow germs. They desperately want to be wiped up and sent down the drain or in the garbage. My son is a pro at his bathroom duty now thanks to these handy wipes.








Clothes Need a Swim3. Clothes Need a Swim
Unless your kids are color blind, this is another fun job they can help with. Sort the laundry by colors and send them into their spinning swimming pool.

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Where Do You Want to Sit?4. Where Do You Want to Sit?
Who ever sets the table gets to pick where to sit! Usually my kids are so hungry come dinner time, they'll jump at the chance to speed things along.















Superheroes Build Muscles Doing This5. Superheros Build Muscles Doing This
Who needs push-ups or weights when you can lift bags of produce and frozen food? Superheros help their moms by carrying in the groceries.

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Don't Let Them Drown!6. Don't Let Them Drown!
The carpet is the ocean and the bookshelf is the island, quick don't let anything drown! The same goes for clothes and other stuff found on bedroom floors. Make it fun for them and they'll put their stuff away.















Choo-Choo7. Choo-Choo
Hop on the choo-choo train and go around the house picking up all the stuff on the floor that doesn't belong there. They can take turns being the caboose or the leader.











Play in the Dirt8. Play in the Dirt
It's almost spring! That means it's almost time to plant the garden and work outside in the yard. Those little hands can definitely help with all of it. Pulling weeds, planting seeds and digging in the dirt isn't work to a kid, it's fun especially when you get to do it together.








- By Mandy Cheney
Follow Mandy on Babble

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