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It’s that time of year again. The stores have put out all the bins and storage containers and we start to think about cleaning, scrubbing, and decluttering. Yes, it’s spring cleaning season.
So, why do we spring clean? How did this tradition get started? The origins date back to Christian, Judaism, and Muslim ancient cultures’ springtime traditions and rituals before significant holy events, many of which included cleaning and sweeping out the old to make way for the new. Over the centuries, these traditions evolved to become what we now know as spring cleaning.
While it may seem easier to just do it all yourself, you really shouldn’t have to take on the brunt of the work. If you want to include the whole family in the process, use the following ideas to help modify spring cleaning for kids and get them involved in age-appropriate ways.
How to spring clean with kids
With increased sunlight suring Spring, our bodies begin to produce more serotonin which can affect our sleep-wake cycles and mood. Less melatonin means the need for less sleep and an increase in energy.
“For most people the process of ‘coming out of hibernation’ means enjoying an increase in energy and is a good thing, leading to a more positive outlook or action. Plans, projects — spring cleaning, for example — or being more active and getting out of town are all ways to deal with the change,” social worker Deidre Ashley wrote for Jackson Hole News & Guide.
Your children, however, may not possess the natural inclination to throw away all the things, so here are some ways to get creative when spring cleaning with kids.
1. Let them be in charge of decluttering
If you’re like me, you sometimes have to sneak around the house to discard all of those fast food toys that add up and seem to multiply. Put your child in charge of their own Donate, Keep and Trash piles to allow them a sense of control over their belongings.
2. Have them take on easier duties
There are certain easy jobs you may not want to perform, like baseboards. Honestly, the only time we really notice them is when we bend down to pick up a projectile pacifier or a bit of food that has plopped out of a saute pan. Some kids, though, will enjoy this chore so arm them with a spray bottle of water and cloth and let them dust away. For an added measure of fun, have your child wipe down the cleaned baseboard with a dryer sheet to help temporarily repel future dust particles.
Kids chores by age: Things your child can do to help with spring cleaning
Including your kids in the spring cleaning process teaches them that maintaining a home is the responsibility of everyone who lives there. Make it easier on yourself with the following breakdown of kids’ chores by age group.
3. Little ones can be an extra set of hands
Trekking up and down the stairs to put random items away can be exhausting when you’re cleaning. Have your child run errands for you by bringing shoes or toys to siblings’ bedrooms and replace books on bookshelves to save you several trips.
4. Young children can help sort laundry
In the decluttering process, you may find yourself with extra loads of laundry. Younger kids can sort clothes by lights and darks and help fold easy items like towels and washcloths.
5. Upper elementary-aged kids can follow an easy spring cleaning schedule
Your kids will likely find spraying and wiping down mirrors and windows fun. Take advantage of their exuberance and put them to work! You can create mini spring cleaning checklists for them to follow and check off as they complete each task.
Cleaning products safety: Make Spring Cleaning a teachable moment
Keep your kids involved in the chores with activities they can learn from — and are fun, too.
6. Have them turn spring cleaning into a science lesson
Show your child how baking soda and vinegar work together to scour a stovetop. Baking soda is a safe abrasive that works to cut through stovetop spills. Have your child add vinegar droplets for an easy acid/base chemical reaction lesson.
7. They can make their own natural cleaners
If you opt for store-bought cleaners, be sure to explain to your child the proper use of chemicals and the importance of never mixing cleaners. For younger children, you may consider more natural-based, green products or letting them make DIY cleaners.
Lemon and orange peels mixed with white vinegar and water make a great kid-safe cleaning product. Hand them a cloth and spray bottle for a variety of surfaces throughout your home. Rather than using harsh stainless steel sprays, olive oil is a safe and effective alternative. Just a small amount on a paper towel goes a long way.
And finally, getting your kids to help might just be a matter of showing them how it’s done:
8. Let them follow your lead
Sarah Cottrell is a mom and author with a slightly different perspective on spring cleaning. “What I really need to do is adopt a daily habit of taking care of my home in a more thorough way. If I want my kids to take of their things, then it starts with me modeling that behavior myself,” she recently wrote for Mom.com.
