How do I get them to clean their room right?

--- - posted on 08/03/2009

do you have the rooms set up so they are easy to clean? for example in my childs room the toys go into specific bins that are labeled with the word and picture of its contents and they are placed on a shelf. if it happens to be something like a barn then the barn will go on the shelf and the pieces will go in a bin either beside it or under it.
slotted book shelves are nice as the child can put the book cover forward and see what they are looking for without taking every book off the shelf.
Blocks and legos get dumped into huge plastic bins with a handle at each end. stuffed animals are put into either a hammock if they are special or another large open bin if they are play items, same with dolls. I buy those sterlite plastic drawers on wheels for their coloring books ect. label their dresser drawers with either words or picture cards of what goes inside so they can put everything away correctly. Add dividers in the sock/underwear drawer so not everything is a mess. make sure to have a laundry hamper in your childs room so the clothes don't end up all over the floor. and teach your child how to make their bed.
now, the first few times you should help your child clean their room so they know how the organization system works. after a few times they will know exactly how you want it and should be able to do it alone.
If your child still refuses or does a mediocre job then I suggest removing cherished items such as electronic equipment or special toys. if the lazy behavior continues then take everything out except for their bed and clothes. if there is nothing in their then they cant make a mess. and if they retaliate by throwing clothing around then remove that as well and give them their clothing as they need it. your child will eventualy realize that if they want nice things then they are to treat their surroundings and belongings with respect.
my 4 year old cleans her room and makes her bed. she attempts to put her clothing away and I often go in after her to straighten the dresser up as she is a crammer.
well I hope this helps.
good luck

Gloria - posted on 08/03/2009

Yes, how old are they.........

I have a Teen myself, lazy yes maam, I have to stay on-top of her at times, am I a neat-freak...lol... yeah kinda, I basically clean the whole house, spotless, and all she has to do is clean Her room, Her bathroom, iron Her clothes etc.

I guess I am thiking....College and being Independant in the future. It's for her own good, i love her and that's why.

Katrina - posted on 08/03/2009

I'm kind of a strict mom. My kids are older though (10,14 and 17) , but if they want to throw things in their closet and under their bed. I take whatever is thrown there and they have to earn it back. I feel if they can't take proper care of it then they don't need to have it. It works well,their rooms are clean the way i want them to be.

Tammy - posted on 08/03/2009

I have two answers.

1. You have to train them to clean their room. You have to sit there with them and teach them. I swear that kids do not see dirt! I can send them back 400 times and they will come back saying they think it's fine when it's TRASHED. You have to sit there and say, "Okay now, pick up all the books. Now pick up all the clothes. Look at that shirt. Is this dirty or clean? If it's dirty put it in the hamper. If its clean then hang it back up. Okay, this is how you make the bed. Now look under the bed. See all that stuff? That has to be put away too. Now stand on this side of the dresser. Can you see that dirt on there? Wipe it off." etc. Assume that they are brain damaged. Bill Cosby says all kids are brain damaged and I have found no evidence to refute that. ha

That being said:

2. I promised myself that I would not make my kids' lives a living hell like my mom did when I was a kid. There is a difference between being trained HOW to clean and expecting them to keep it perfect all the time. That is just not the hill that I'm willing to die on, so to speak. As a PP said, there should be nothing "growing", no bad smells, nothing unsanitary but clothes on the floor, books and clutter are just not going to end until they move out or unless you want to ride their case 24/7. About once a week I make them go in there, make sure I have all the laundry out of there, make sure that there is no food or dishes in there and that the sheets are changed. About the only time their rooms are really clean is when they want to have a sleepover. Then I make them clean up GOOD. Otherwise, I close the door, breathe deeply and keep walking.

Mandy - posted on 08/03/2009

This is a toughy! Kids just dont seem to want to tidy properly. You may have tried all of these but i thought you may find some suggestions useful:

firstly how do u ask your kids to tidy? It sounds silly but if u nag them (we all do it ) they are more likely to resent having to do it and so not do it properly.

Also have u thought of rewards? It doesn't have to cost any thing, but if u introduce a star chart or car chart whatever will grab there attention and if they do a good job then they get a sticker. And after 3 or 5 or 10 stars (whatever level u think) they get a reward, it could be an extra story from mum, a trip to the park, half an hour extra on computer (something they really gonna want). They will then be more likely to work for it. Especially if it becomes a little friendly competion between siblings. If u choose this option then its best to start small and build up or they will give up before they start. And never take stars away or again they will give up.



I hope this has giving u some food for thought, i have seen it work a treat many times with my friends kids

Good luck x x x

Veronica - posted on 08/03/2009

I'd like to add too - dont worry about perfection, your children will get it as they get older. My mom left it up to us to clean our own rooms. She showed us how to sort everything, gave us little containers for our toys, and where everything belonged. Before long we were cleaning, sorting, rearranging furniture to make our rooms 'cool' and so forth. I think as a child having that peice of something to yourself that you have responsibility for can be important. And its kind of their own 'sanctuary' or private place to be. Here's a story I heard once: a lady wanted her daughter to set the table for supper. The little girl went around and put the plates and forks and cups nonchalantly on the table. The mother didnt want it the way her daughter did it, and went and corrected everything, putting it together how she wanted it done, instead of how the girl did it. The little girl was soo upset, she was so proud to have helped her mother, and did her best - but now it didnt appear so. --- bottom line - let them do it to their best ability praise them for it, and just continue to teach them how to do it --- they will get it. dont sweat the small stuff.

Mandy - posted on 08/03/2009

This is a toughy! Kids just dont seem to want to tidy properly. You may have tried all of these but i thought you may find some suggestions useful:

firstly how do u ask your kids to tidy? It sounds silly but if u nag them (we all do it ) they are more likely to resent having to do it and so not do it properly.

Also have u thought of rewards? It doesn't have to cost any thing, but if u introduce a star chart or car chart whatever will grab there attention and if they do a good job then they get a sticker. And after 3 or 5 or 10 stars (whatever level u think) they get a reward, it could be an extra story from mum, a trip to the park, half an hour extra on computer (something they really gonna want). They will then be more likely to work for it. Especially if it becomes a little friendly competion between siblings. If u choose this option then its best to start small and build up or they will give up before they start. And never take stars away or again they will give up.



I hope this has giving u some food for thought, i have seen it work a treat many times with my friends kids

Good luck x x x

Jocelyn - posted on 08/03/2009

I bought organizers and cleaned their room with them. I did this for a while and let them know that if things weren't where they belonged that they would be missing. So, when I found my 7 year olds favorite jersey on the floor, I took it and hid it. When he told me he couldn't find it, I asked him if he put it away and he said no. I finally gave it back a week later telling him it was on the floor and next time it would be out the door. I do this with all my kids and it works or else they lose what they treasure most... stuff.

Debbi - posted on 08/03/2009

Depends on whose idea of right you're looking for. LOL. How old are the kids? I know that when my older kids were little, I was a nutcase about their room and toys. everything had to be put in just the right spot or I would dump EVERYTHING in the middle of the room. Crazy, I know. I was in an emotionally abusive marriage, and my home was the only thing I had control over, and boy did I exert control. I have since apologized to them, they are now adults. Funny but what they remember more is me taking time to play with them in the middle of the pile of toys. When they got older, I just closed their bedroom doors and learned to let go. So enjoy the kids, not the mess. Soon enough they will be grown up and you will wish to have them back, mess and all.

Veronica - posted on 08/03/2009

How old are they? That's the first thing to know. I personally have tubs that they put their toys in, and they help me put laundry away. Stuff still gets thrown around and put where 'it doesnt belong' but continue teaching and encouraging your children, and eventually they will get it. In the meantime - make sure garbage and yucky stuff is out - and just shut the door if you can't stand the sight! We have enough work throughout the house to do in a day - I dont think we are entirely responsible to keep our children's rooms cleaned either. I always go through and do garbage and laundry check - bedding too. Otherwise, I probably get in to their rooms once in a while to help clean everything back up - and we vacuum weekly as well. My kids are 6 years old and under -- they are pretty good at helping out, and following simple directions/instructions. They love to vacuum so all i have to say is pick up your room, and they will and then they get to vaccuum it. They feel good about it, and proud of themselves afterwards.



Show them how to sort, show them where things belong - repetition and consistancy gets teh job done.



Take care, I hope I helped

Veronica