Here are some tips to get little ones involved in tidying up.
Remember you should be a role model for your children. Give them age-appropriate tasks. Younger ones can match their socks – it can become a playful activity. Older children can make their beds every morning and keep their desks in order.
Start making decisions together. Take your children on the weekly grocery shop run and involve them in what you buy and then cook.
Make sure your children’s rooms have good storage space, and create themed areas within the room – a reading area in one corner, a dress-up area in another and a playground in the middle.
Give clear instructions. Instead of “please clean up”, refine your request to: “Please put the CDs back onto the shelf and put teddy to bed, now.” Your children must know exactly what to do.
Encourage creativity. Their rooms can be clean but don’t need to be sterile. Rituals help. Have everyday rules like: “Before dinner all toys must be back in their place.” Defining the rules helps everyone.
* Home services provider Helpling; www.helpling.ae
