The structure of a new school season is the perfect time to motivate
your children towards weekly, green cleaning routines. One of the great reasons to use Harmony
Aromatherapy Cleaners is how safe they are around children. Harmony Aromatherapy Cleaners are non-toxic
and safe household cleaners! No worries
of harmful chemicals getting into your child's eyes, lungs or skin.
There are two basic components kids need to help with around
the house, namely their personal belongings /space and shared spaces. Personal belongings/space
consists of the cleanup of their bedrooms; toys, games, books, clothes, and papers
lying around their bedroom and beyond.
Shared spaces are the bathrooms, kitchen, family room, etc.
Proper green cleaning instruction should begin at an early
age. It would not be unreasonable to say
that a child as young as 18 months could pick up his/hers toys with parental
assistance. Cleaning one's home is a necessity
of life! So how do we motivate our
children towards proper home cleanup?
Keep reading for our practical suggestions.
Motivational tips
to help your children stick with weekly green cleanup tasks.
1. Motivate through
simplicity: Have real and clearly defined
expectations
To one child, "Go clean your room," makes sense
and is followed through from start to finish within a reasonable amount of
time.
To another child that same request, "Go clean your
room," will result in two items picked up off the floor an hour
later. Frustrations mount between you
and that child and you wonder, what is wrong?
The problem: On the
surface the request, "go clean your room" may appear simple but it
can actually be quite a daunting request.
For a child who struggles with order and follow-through he/she may
become overwhelmed simply because the request was too vague. He/she may not know how or where to begin
cleaning the bedroom and so will pick at it slowly. This results in both you and your child
growing frustrated.
Instead of requesting he/she "goes and cleans the
room" try it this way, "pick up your toys and put them where they
belong by "X" amount of time."
You have just represented the desired task to be accomplished in a
simplified, yet clearly defined manner.
If your child still procrastinates, you will probably want to give some
other incentives or consequences for the task.
One other word of caution, be careful not to lump multiple requests
together. Allow your child to complete
one simple request at a time.
2. Motivate through
NOT TALKING!
Our child are awesome at hearing a conversation taking place
in another room and yet cannot seem to hear mom or dad ask them to clean up
around the house.
How is that possible?
It's selective listening! They
hear what they want to hear. Taking your
voice out of the process forces them to pay attention and really listen.
When possible, write chores out and have either assign them
or have your children pick out which they want to do. There are several creative ways to write them
out:
-on a chalkboard and the kids cross them off once completed.
- on ping-pong balls:
write out one chore per ball and place balls in a basket. Each child picks one ball and completes the
task then gets another ball and completes that task. Turn it into a game: the child who completes
the most chores in a given amount of time is the winner and can select a
prize. Prizes may include a no-chore
day, movie night, etc.
-on colored craft sticks.
Children choose a designated amount of sticks and complete those
chores. Turning in the sticks to mom or
dad when chores are completed. Again you
can give a reward out to the one who completes them first (provided the chores
are done "up to par").
For more information about Harmony Aromatherapy Cleaners click the
link.
If you are looking for scent-free household cleaners—
Baby Harmony Cleaners contain no essential oil scents
and are an even
milder yet effective green cleaner.
