Chores

Why You’ve Gotta Teach Kids To Clean While They’re Young

If you want your teens to help out… you’ve got to get busy teaching kids to clean when they’re young. Here’s how.

A very recent study was brought to my attention that deals with teenagers, cleaning, and attitudes towards cleaning of the mothers who raised them.

It might come as a complete and total accidentally-drop-your-drink shock that this study shows many teenagers… are lazy… and they don’t like to clean… and they don’t clean very well.

Now before you start googling how you too can get paid to produce such history-altering results, here’s where it gets interesting.

97% mothers polled said it’s important for them that their teenagers develop good household cleaning skills, but of those 70% said they just find it easier to clean themselves since their teenagers’ efforts are sub par, and 37% even said their teenagers do such a bad job they just prefer to go it alone.

Whew, that’s a lot of work for mom.

Of the mothers polled 28% even went so far as to say that people not cleaning up after themselves is the quality they dislike most both socially and professionally.

➡️ So basically, cleaning is important.

Teaching kids to clean while they’re young is important for many reasons:

It’s stressful to live in a messy dirty house (and children are the ones who make most of the mess)
if we don’t teach them they’ll never learn
a little responsibility goes a long way

When my daughter was two, I already let her “help” me sweep, wipe the table, and pick up her toys. Anything she could safely do, I let her help me with.

[Read more…]

How To Keep A Tidy House With Little Kids – It’s Possible!

Wondering how to keep a tidy house with little kids running around making messes all day? Look no further, these tips will help.

First of all, I don’t think it’s imperative that the house be tidy all the time.

However, an untidy and messy house really drives me nuts.

Relaxing or working in a chaotic environment is very difficult for me. And, unfortunately, I can’t go too long with a mess before it starts affecting my mental health.

Each of our standards are different

Each of us grew up in houses that had a certain level of clutter, mess and organization. We got used to that.

More than likely, that is the standard to which we’d like our homes to be kept now. If your mother was very clean and tidy (as mine is) then a mess may be very noticeable to you.

If you grew up in a home where clutter, toys, or messes were common and not a big deal, then perhaps you don’t stress about the state of the house.

Whatever works for your family and you, keep at it.

instead of cleaning I just turn off the lights poster

How to keep a tidy house with small kids

If you are like me (God help you) then having children only means that keeping the house clean will be more challenging. It doesn’t mean it can be forgotten for a few years.

Here are some tips for those of us who won’t let the idea that we can still keep a tidy house die. Perseverance and endurance to us all!

Read: Easy routines to help keep a house tidy with kids

Revisit your definition of tidy.

First and foremost, we mothers need to revisit what it means to be tidy. Tidy used to mean everything where we put it since the last time we moved it.

It used to mean that surfaces were clear, nothing was on the floor, things were in proper boxes and the house was almost always ready for visitors.

Tidy now will mean something different:

A few baskets filled with visible toys in each room
Books are on a bookshelf- any bookshelf will do
The main surfaces are clear of anything used in previous days, but today’s clutter is acceptable

Family Practices & Contribution

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

Family Tidy Routines

This workshop will help you build a simple 15-minute daily routine that fits into real life—so the house stays (mostly) clean and the kids finally learn to help. Because a clean home is a team effort, not a one-mom show.

Start Now

Here are some super cute baskets for kids rooms.

It may mean that throughout the day there will be times when the house is in full play mode which means, obviously, that the house isn’t always “company ready.”

The truth is, most company we keep wouldn’t even notice anyway. But for me, tidy will still look as though the house is in order and picked up. I have to remember that my definition of tidy is different than it was before kids.

Work with your children not against them.

After my first child started crawling and pulling things around I was personally offended.

Does she not know that I want the house to look neat?

Is she doing this to pop my forehead vein?!?

After a while I realized that was not the case, and that I needed to figure out some good systems that let the kids be kids and let the house be neat and orderly, but still be home.

Read: An 18 Month Routine for Energetic Toddlers

I let them throw around their toys, games and blocks while they are playing. When they are finished we all pick them up together.

Of course, some days this is me standing over them handing them a block telling them to put it in the basket. Some days they do it happily, some days they run away.

That’s life.

However, if I let them run wild with things then I make them put it back later.

Win win.

Downsize the knickknacks

One way that I’ve managed to keep the house from looking like an indoor yard sale is to minimize the sit-abouts, tchotkes, and knick knacks.

If I want to put sentimental and decorative items on display I do so where they are above arms reach.

I downsized the knickknacks not because I wanted to teach my children to avoid certain things. I did it simply because the little ones only have so much willpower. 4,356 picture frames, candles and coasters are too much for them to resist day in and day out!

It goes without saying that kids will want to touch everything in the house.

On lower surfaces I keep the bare minimum to be pleasing to my eye and it means there are less things strewn about the house.

Is it just me, or can a child somehow manage to dislocate about 35 things in one trip to the bathroom?

Family Practices & Contribution

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

No Nag Chore Routines

Getting kids to do chores shouldn’t be a daily battle. Let me help you build a simple, age-appropriate system that teaches independence, teamwork, and responsibility—without constant micromanaging. Because a well-run home isn’t about doing it all yourself.

Start Now

Make daily sweeps

Doing daily sweeps makes a big difference!

We clean up after playtime and I do a major sweep after the children are in bed. That’s it…

Those two things means that almost every evening (unless it is a particularly busy evening) the house looks neat and tidy before bed. It really only takes around 10 minutes max each time to do it.

I put things back where they came from and that’s it. Two or three days of messes make cleaning and tidying longer… so I try to do it every single day. This prevents build up and makes the house easier to maintain.

Read: Evening Sweep

Organize well

If things don’t have a place they end up on the kitchen counter…or so it is at our house. Furthermore, if toys don’t have a place they end up hiding where my foot finds them in the dark! Not good for anyone’s sanity!

I have baskets and places for everything. I’m not saying they’re beautiful. I’m not saying everything is labeled – although I love my label maker – but simply everything has a place.

Baskets and places for everyting make tidying easy because each evening you can put up a pile of things quickly when you know where each belong. Remember to do your daily sweep!

Sometimes the house looks fabulous. Sometimes the house looks awful. I have been known to see spider webs and ignore. Sometimes I have all the kids wiping down surfaces with me.

It comes and goes. I don’t feel like a failure if it looks “lived in”, but I do think that teaching our children to clean after themselves and living tidy isn’t some form of child abuse.

It won’t kill them to clean up. It won’t kill me to clean up.

While a perfectly tidy house won’t make all our dreams come true, I think it will help us not get too down in the dumps when we are nursing the “I’m-so-frumpy-all-I-do-is-the-dishes” syndrome.

Sources:

How can I streamline cleaning routines and make them more manageable with young children around?

The biggest help is consistently doing these cleaning routines at predictable times throughout the day, so it’s expected and part of your day – like, cleaning up the kitchen after breakfast or picking up the toys in the playroom before nap time. This way, your kids will (generally) be less resistant and will contribute to the routines as they get used to them.

How do I handle the influx of artwork, school projects, and other items that my kids bring home without letting it take over the house?

A “command center” somewhere in the home is helpful for this because it is a place where things land when kids come into the house. Then, as they get settled in to being home, you can decide together what to keep filed away, hang up, or toss.

What are some practical strategies for teaching young children to clean up after themselves?

The best strategies are modeling and consistency. Kids will usually do what they see being done around them and engage with things that they can routinely expect. In the process, make it fun by creating games (who can pick up the most things?) or singing songs.

Routines to Keep a Tidy Home With Kids

While children are the ones who make the messes, they can also help clean them up! Here are some basic routines that help keep a tidy home with kids. Post contains affiliate links.

Trying to keep a tidy home with small children in it is like trying shovel snow while it’s still snowing.

It feels sorta pointless, but if you don’t at least shovel the snow while there’s a lull, then soon you’ll find yourself snowed in and unable to get out.

It’s the same with toys, kids stuff, laundry, and dealing with toddlers…

Now, I know may people embrace the whole “the house will look like a bomb for a few years thing” and if you are truly able to function better that way, then I’m not going to try to convince you otherwise.

However, if you hate the fact that your home looks like a football stadium after a ball game (Go Gators!), then I’m hoping these tips will help you.

Tidy Routines That Even Small Kids Can Do

Remember, if the house is in an overwhelming state of mess for YOU, imagine how it must feel to your child. So, keep things simple and easy for both you and the kids.

Here are 6 key things to keep a tidy home with kids:

1. Bed Making & Morning Tidy

I’ve only recently gotten the kids to straighten their beds because, well, they weren’t able to make their beds.

You can do a few things to make this easier like getting Zip Up Sheets, a Zip Up Comforter, or just teaching them (painstakingly if they’re small) how to tidy the bed.

I teach mine how and they don’t have the freedom to come to breakfast unless their bed is straight and their room is cleaned.

Now, straight is relative, but if I can tell they’ve tried I never go behind them.

I will get my 2 year old to help tidy his crib, my barely 4 year old to help tidy his bed, and my 5, 6, and 7 year olds tidy their beds on their own. I use a clock to help the older ones know what time they can come out of their rooms to start the day.

Mirami “OK” to Wake Clock

2. Cleanup After Playtime to Keep a Tidy Home

Each morning my kids have an Independent Play Time and I don’t restrict how many toys they can play with anymore.

When they are small and in the crib, they get a few choices, but when they move to playing in their room they can do what they want.

The rule is that they can’t come out of their room, however, until it’s picked back up.

I’ve done this from the get-go and now they don’t argue or fuss, so their room pretty much stays in good order all day.

The key is that kids get in the habit of tidying up at some point during the day. And you want this point to be BEFORE not AFTER something they enjoy. This is my getting-your-kids-to-cooperate-the-South-African-way and cuts back drastically on power battles.

Family Practices & Contribution

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

Family Tidy Routines

Start Now

3. Get a Good Laundry System Down

It’s my goal this year to get a good laundry system down for our family of 7.

I had a great one when we had 4 people then 5 but it unraveled at 6 and at 7… I just go in when we’re out of clothes and that’s that.

However, in order to feel like the laundry is not out of control, I’m working to create a new system that is easier for us all to keep.

Basic Laundry Tips

Your Hamper System is probably the most important thing of all.
I’ve stopped folding our “house clothes” that get wrinkled anyway, and simply sort them by hamper and have the kids put them away. I recommend watching This Video which outlines that.
Put clothes in your washer each evening and set a timer (if you have one!) for the next morning. This way, when you are beginning your morning routines you are already ahead.
Get the kids involved. It’s a hard slog when you try to do all household chores while kids are in bed. Do some folding (and let kids fold towels, wash cloths, etc.) with the kids and things go faster.

4. Timed Clean-Up

I recently bought This Timer to help in our day to day. Here is All the Ways You Can Use a Timer during your day, but let’s say here that it’s a great way to get in a big spurt of cleaning without feeling overwhelmed.

Set your timer for a certain period of time, turn on some music even, and clean until the timer goes off. It’s easy enough to keep the kids motivated when they know there’s an end in sight.
You might even do this for 5 minutes every evening. This is a great tip to keep a tidy home.
The more you do little by little, the less that builds up.

Family Practices & Contribution

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

No Nag Chore Routines

Start Now

5. Evening sweep

I wrote a whole post on The Evening Sweep Here. It’s a great routine to add into your evening.

This looks like, after the kids are in bed, making a sweep of the main living areas of the home and tidying everything up.

Putting things back in their baskets.

Taking things to the rooms where they go.

I might find things that go in the kids’ rooms who are sleeping so I’ll simply set it outside that child’s room until the next day. It’s still nearer where it’s supposed to be and out of the main rooms.rnrnDo not underestimate the great feeling you’ll get when you see the main living areas of the home super tidy.

6. End-Of-Dinner Tidy Up

We’ve recently started (and are still tweaking) a new post-dinner routine where no one really leaves the kitchen until it’s all clean.

We are adjusting this since our 2 and 3 year olds make this a tad more exhausting than necessary (#reallife).

But… the goal is that mama is not back in the kitchen at 9 p.m. on her own cleaning it all. You don’t want to suffer until late at night to keep a tidy home.

View this post on Instagram

Started a new routine (rule): No One Leaves The Kitchen After Dinner Until It’s Clean ??? . There is weeping and gnashing, fights over who gets to spray, kids running in circles, and constant direction to stay on task, but there is also…. . A CLEAN KITCHEN ????? BY 7PM . If your mental health is suffering (aka you are losing your mind) over having to clean everything up after littles go to bed I cannot recommend this enough! ✊?? . #chores #momlife #momhacks #sahmlife #homeschoolmom #sahm #bigfamily #momoffive #our_everyday_moments

A post shared by Rachel Norman (@momfarfromhome) on Aug 15, 2018 at 5:54pm PDT

Sources:

Why should I involve my kids in cleaning up?

Not only is it good practice for them to learn how to tidy up and maintain a home, but it also helps parents to have more peace in the home because they are not doing all the things when the kids are sleeping. Instead, they can use that time for self-care, hobbies, connecting, etc. Check out this post for more on this!

Why should I involve my kids in cleaning up if it takes longer than if I do it myself?

Kids need to learn the life skills of cleaning a home, doing laundry, etc. Just because you can do it faster, doesn’t mean that you should have to do everything. As the saying goes, many hands make light work. So, it benefits the kids because they learn important skills and it takes things off your plate. It gets easier as the kids get older and more efficient, but you have to start somewhere, mama!

The Evening Sweep… An Easy Way to a Tidy Home

Do you ever feel that you are running around in circles trying to tidy, but it still remains a mess? The evening sweep is one routine that’ll help keep your house clean with minimal effort.

It’s 8 p.m. and all the kids are in bed.

You just want to fall down on the couch comatose.

Then eat ice cream, binge watch Netflix, and recover from your hyper-vigilant day.

You’re the typical tired mom. And that’s okay. That’s your season of life.

But there’s something else that compounds the tired weary feeling, and that’s an untidy home. Not because you “should” have a spotless home with no clutter anywhere. No “should’s” allowed.

But because clutter and untidiness actually has a negative affect on your mind. The Princeton University Neuroscience Institute puts it this way:

Multiple stimuli present in the visual field at the same time compete for neural representation by mutually suppressing their evoked activity throughout visual cortex, providing a neural correlate for the limited processing capacity of the visual system.

Then they paraphrased that for us mortals by saying this: when your environment is cluttered, your mind becomes distracted and unable to process information as well as you do in an organized environment.

It’s not rocket science people… it’s apparently neuroscience.

What’s an “evening sweep?”

An evening sweep is when you take 5-15 minutes going from room to room in your home tidying up, returning things to their place, and straightening.

I started this years ago and it’s one of my favorite and most effective ways to keep a relatively clutter free home.

I go through phases (late pregnancy, a massive de-cluttering phase, or a busy time with work) where I don’t do it every single night, and I feel those effects immediately.

Family Practices & Contribution

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

Family Tidy Routines

Start Now

1. Do it before you sit down

This is key for me. If I crash before I do the sweep, it often doesn’t get done. I use the rest time as incentive to push through and do it.

When I walk from the last child’s room or away from the kitchen sink, I’ll quickly walk around and start putting things back where they go, in the laundry, etc.

Then, as soon as I’m finished, I’ll relax. Sometimes with a good book, nice drink, or whatever else I feel like that evening. If you don’t do it before you enter relax mode, it probably won’t get done.

2. Do it quickly with purpose

The key here is to have the goal be the sweep and to do it quickly. If you are the type to get distracted by many things along the way, try your best to focus.

Otherwise, you’ll end up not having swept anything and have created a few new piles of things to captivate your attention.

3. Have the kids help before bed

I’ll often have the kids help me do a sweep of their things around the house before bed. At various points throughout the day we’ll tidy up so that the mess doesn’t get so big it takes an hour in the evening.

The goal is to do small sweeps – and have your kids do them as well – throughout the day so that one final evening sweep leaves you with a tidy home.

Family Practices & Contribution

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

No Nag Chore Routines

Start Now

4. Use a timer if need be

If you tend to get distracted or are worried it’ll be an endless tidy up leaving no time for relaxing, set your handy timer.

I’m going to write a post soon on all the ways you can use a timer, but suffice it to say, set it for 10 minutes and go hard and fast.

Then you know it’ll end. If your home is a big mess then you don’t have to try and climb Everest in one night. Baby steps will build better habits than big jumps you can’t maintain. This is the timer I use

Pssst… grab a 2 pack of timers here.

5. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow

There is honestly a lot to be said for waking up to a tidy home. Of course your little love bombs will blow it all up within an hour or two of waking, but that’s okay.

They’re kids.

Waking up to a tidy home is such a nice way to reset and start your day right. You probably already have a good mom morning routine, and if you’ve done your evening sweep you won’t even need tidying in that morning routine.

I may be in the minority, but I let my kids make a monster mess if they want to because they’ll be the ones picking it up. So don’t be fooled into thinking the house is always clean and tidy.

It isn’t.

However, I do make an effort to end the day that way and it really really really (and a few more really’s) helps my mental health.

How can I teach my toddlers to help clean up?

Make it part of your daily routine so that they know it happens and teach them how to do it – where to put toys, what should be cleaned up, rules, etc. the more that you involve them in doing sweeps in your house, the more they will take ownership of the process and the easier it will get!

What are the most important areas or tasks to prioritize during my evening sweep?

I usually try to pick up the main level of my house in my evening sweep and the kids do an evening sweep of their rooms before they go to bed. The kitchen and living room tend to accumulate the most messes, so I focus my energy there during my evening sweep.

Are there any strategies for decluttering or organizing that can help reduce the amount of cleaning required on a nightly basis?

I am a big advocate for minimalism and rotating toys so that there are less things to make messes, which helps cut down on the amount of time needed to clean up. With less stuff around the house and a focus evening sweep routine, I am (mostly) able to stay on top of keeping the house tidy without spending too much time cleaning after the kids are in bed.

Monthly Routines For Moms – No More Falling Through The Cracks

Looking for a refreshing list of monthly activities to help your life run more smoothly? There are monthly routines here that you can put on autopilot.

There’s nothing worse than having a bajillion things going on in our heads that need to get done.

One way to avoid all that drama?

Create a time (anytime!) to get it done, then put it off of your mind until then. Some things need doing daily, some weekly, but many things can be done ONCE A MONTH.

Here are a few things you can shove into your phone reminders as a task to do 1x per month. Until it comes up to remind you to get it done… forget about it.

Plan ahead for special events.

Events such as birthday parties, social events, or church functions can really sneak up on a busy family.

Plan ahead by writing them down on your calendar and synching your family calendars. You can also go ahead and work on who you will invite, babysitting, or any other need you may have for that event.

Buy presents
Organize babysitting
Invites for hospitality
Plan any specifics surrounding these events

Clean your vehicle out.

Ok, so let’s be honest. Once a month is probably not enough for a sweep… especially if you have multiple children. However, once a month deep clean is a great idea.

You know, get that mystery sticky substance from under the seat. Tackle it monthly and it’s sure to help everything go smoothly.

I pay a monthly fee for our local car wash and can use it as many times as I want per month
Set a reminder on your phone to clean it out
Get the kids to help clean out their stuff
Keep some quick cleaning items (wipes, a rag, spray, etc.) in the trunk for ease.

Check scheduled appointments & make any necessary calls.

Sitting down at the beginning of each month to check appointments can really make things run more smoothly.

dentist / doctor
haircuts
animal groomers
beauty (nails, massage, etc.)
therapy (physical, occupational, counseling, etc.)

You don’t want these appointments sneaking up on you.

And, it’s frustrating having to break plans because you forgot you had a doctors apt. etc.

De-clutter under the sink & pantry.

It never fails… there’s a mystery wrapper or a completely empty box of something. So, once a month de-clutter of cabinets such as the pantry or under the sink can feel really great.

You can also use this opportunity to stock up on some things that may be running low.

snack baskets
under kitchen sink
under bathroom sink / drawers
junk drawers
fridge (throw out moldy stuff, etc)

Sit down and really, I mean REALLY check your personal wellness.

The days, weeks, months, years fly by when you’re raising small children. As any mother knows… she can lose herself in the hustle and bustle of it all.

So, dedicate an afternoon or evening to you. Take some time to journal, write, pray, and check your overall happiness. Use my free tracker below to help take stock of where you’re at and what you need.

Did you do enough last month to satisfy your needs? If not, make some plans for this month to do better… for your own sanity.

time alone
recharge activities (see some ideas here)
social activities (time with friends, going out for coffee, date night, etc.)
space, time, and budget to solve problems (below is a video on why that helps us be more present)

Review local events & checking school calendars.

Many local communities have kicked into gear about hosting weekly downtown events and other fun opportunities. I love how it seems that this year, cities are rallies around community and togetherness.

I avoid scrolling my FB feed because it’s distracting, but it also means I am liable to miss local events. Creating a reminder to check what’s going on locally can make sure you don’t miss fun events.

You may be surprised at what local events your family would like to attend if you check monthly and get them on your calendar.

Also, when school is in session… it always is a good idea to review the calendar or days off, special events, etc.

games
festivals
concerts
awards ceremonies
parades
shows

Read These While You’re At It

Family Culture Is The Ultimate Way To Build A Strong Family – Here’s How

family identity: what strong families have

Family Identity: What Tight Knit Families Have That Distant Families Don’t

Surprising Benefits of the Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship & How To Foster It

The Indisputable Benefits of Family Traditions & Rituals

Plan your families prayer and devotion.

It never hurts to plan time together. If you’re like us, things get busy and it’s hard to keep scheduled devotions. That’s why we usually plan devotion time during a time that we are already together- dinner, bedtime.

Anyways, setting some goals for family prayer and devotion is a monthly routine to help your life run smoother. You can even link it up with the season or month.

holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.)
transitions and life milestones (starting school, etc.)
topic based, depending on what your children are going through (friendship issues, hard topics, etc.)

Monthly routines can include going through kids clothes.

Go through kids clothing and get rid of items too small, stains, etc.

Kids grow so fast.

And, I don’t know about you but sometimes one of mine comes out of their room in something that is too short, too tight, or should have been passed down months ago.

So, a great monthly routine is to take one day a month and go through clothes. Take out what doesn’t fit or that is too damaged and pass it along or throw it away.

Keep a pile somewhere in your home out of the way where you can put things you are donating then, once a month, bag it up and donate it.

Get an overall food plan (eating out, cooking, etc.)

Monthly routines can change depending on the season. For example, during sports seasons some families may eat more “on the go.”

So, take a look at what the month has to hold and get an overall food plan. This can include expenses, shopping plans, working on heathy snack options, etc.

Read These While You’re At It

5 lessons to teach at the table that have nothing to do with meals #parenting #manners #conversation #kids

4 Dinner Table Lessons That Have Nothing To Do With Food

5 Dinner Time Hacks To Simplify (And Sanify!) Family Meals

Avoid Chaos During Dinner Prep… Use These Hacks!

Baby & Toddler Snacks – The Best Times, Rules And Food Ideas

Start a new month in your gratitude notepad.

Keeping a gratitude notepad is so rewarding.

Going from month-to-month, it can be nice to start a fresh tab to help keep up with the flow of your families busy life.

You can tear off sheets when you need attitude resets. For you AND the kids!

Plan ahead for outdoor family times.

Organization and proper planning is key in having successful outside activities for the family.

If your family is adventurous you may need to have a system in place to store gear- boards, supplies, etc. Add a day or cleaning and organizing to your monthly routine.

If your family enjoys togetherness in your backyard, a monthly routine to clean up & organize backyard fun items is a great way to keep the good times rolling.

Reset monthly reading goals & revamp bookshelves.

In our house, I routinely flip bookshelves. No… I don’t mean physically flipping them over.

Kids have a bad habit to taking the first book they see and putting it back on top. So, to give them the best possible experience and exposure to ALL our wonderful books, I move them around.

I’ll take the ones from the back of one bookshelf and place them in the front of another.

Review your budget and pay bills.

Some families benefit greatly from sitting down together each month to discuss expenses, saving, bills, and spending. Even if it’s pulling up statements online, getting everyone on the same page is powerful.

This is a time where proposed projects can be discussed and unneeded spending can be addressed.

Organize receipts, bills, and other misc. files.

You know that countertop that catches all the paperwork? Yes, even with a nice filing system… stuff still land there.

A monthly routine that will help your life run smoother is to sit down once a month and make sure things are stored in their proper place. If you are paperless, you can make sure you scanned important documents before throwing them away.

Shred what needs to be shredded, put away important docs, and claim back your surfaces.

Clean out & organize closets.

It can be refreshing to sift through hanging items, pair mystery socks, and pass on unwanted wardrobe items.

Even if your monthly routine is just to straighten and organize, it can make your closet seem much more functional if kept tidy.

Change seasonal items
Remove things that have holes, runs, etc.
Hang up anything on the floor

How can I keep all of these things organized and in one place?

I personally love having a Homemaking Binder for this because it houses all of the things in this blog post plus passwords, recipes, etc. and is a great way to have everything in one place. I have seen other families have a “command center” somewhere in their home where they keep important items, notes, calendar, etc.

What do I do if a month is extra busy and I miss some of these things?

Progress > perfection. We’re not striving to do all of these things perfectly all the time. We are simply creating routines so that things get done without making us feel overwhelmed. If something has to wait, so be it.

Self-Care (& Hygiene!) Skills for Little Kids

It’s never to early to start teaching some valuable lessons on self-care and hygiene to young children. Check out these ten skills and how to teach them:

I have too many kids to do everything for them.

Hard fact.

When they were younger, of course, I did what needed to be done. But I’m amazed how quickly my precious ones wanted to learn how to do things. And when kids are eager to do things on their own, what should we do?

Teach them how!

Yes, you’ll still have to supervise and inspect what you expect, of course, but when kids are able to carry out a lot of their own self-care and hygiene tasks, they feel good and competent

Why is Self-Care & Hygiene Important to Teach Toddlers and Preschoolers?

It’s simple. Good hygiene skills are important to keep kids healthy and safe. It’s ok to start early in training small children how to have sanitary habits.

Here are 10 self-care & hygiene skills that you can teach toddlers and preschoolers:

Washing Hands

According to the some, hand-washing is one of the best ways to prevent getting sick. For toddlers and preschoolers, this makes it a good hygiene skill to have.

Here are the steps for proper hand-washing:

Wet your hands with clean, running water.
Apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Don’t forget the backs of your hands and between your fingers.
Scrub while you hum through “happy birthday to you” twice. This should be about 20 seconds.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

**Children should be taught when to wash their hands, as part of good hygiene.**

Before & after eating food
Before & after seeing someone who is sick
After going to the bathroom
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
When you are done petting an animal
When you are visiting a new baby or an elderly person

Of course, they don’t do all these all the time and we don’t want to get obsessed about it all, but these are good times to keep in mind.

Dental Care

For toddlers and preschoolers, it’s time to start taking some independence with dental care… although In my opinion, kids (even older) should be monitored for proper brushing.

At this age, however children can start to learn how to properly brush their teeth.

Here is a good way to begin teaching this skill:

Model good technic
Allow them to do their best
Follow up with you getting the spots they missed
Praise them for their efforts
Stay consistent

Read: Quiet time (Rest time) for Toddlers: All You Need to Know

Dental hygiene is very important and begins at a young age. Teach these specific skills:

As soon as teeth start to come in, start brushing
Use a soft bristle brush and pea sized amount of toothpaste
Make short round motions and over all areas of the teeth
Rise (don’t swallow)
Clean toothbrush and place back in sanitary location

Children’s Oral Health Basics/CDC Guidelines

Bathing & Drying Off

Bath-time can be a super fun time. Or sometimes it’s not, ha, but anyway you can minimize the bath time battles.

Some kids love to be in the water, and others don’t like it at all. Either way, learning good bathing skills is important.

Here are a few skills that you can begin to teach to your toddler & preschooler:

When to bathe
How much time to spend in the bath
Appropriate bath-time behaviors
How much soap to use & where to put it
Rinsing clean
How to dry off & where to put the towel

Blowing Nose & Covering Sneezes

My kids all prefer to let their snot drip out and then sniff. Drip and sniff. REPEAT.

Other day at church someone near us handed my son a tissue.

Take a hint, sin: BLOW!

But, blowing, wiping, and covering sneezes are important hygiene skills to teach kids. Think of it this way, the sooner they learn how, the sooner they can do it themselves.

Here’s where to start:

Have tissues handy
Show them how to fold and hold the tissue (not all sides are clean once you use it once)
Allow them to keep a tissue in pocket or bag once they are ready

Travel size tissue packs even come in Dinosaur or Barbie designs for kids to enjoy.

Toiletry Habits

Many preschools or early learning centers require children to come prepared to use the bathroom independently.

Even if they don’t, how much better is it to have properly trained your young child on good toilet habits.

It’s never to early to begin training cleanliness and sanitary safety.

Training tips for toddlers & preschoolers:

Train situational awareness. Using the restroom in a public room is different than at home. We don’t lay on floor or touch toilet seat, etc.
Always wash hands thoroughly after using the restroom.
Using the restroom is a private matter. Don’t look at or watch anyone else while they are doing their business. The same applies to them.
For boys, wipe the seat clean if you made a mess. Throw tissue in and flush.
For girls, check to make sure seat is clean before sitting down. Always wipe from front to back.

Read These While You’re At It

how to get your toddler to pee on the potty

How to Get Your Child to Pee on the Potty

Some Must Have Potty Training Supplies… The Rest is Optional

The Trickiest Part of Potty Training And How to Overcome It

Toddler Stalling Bedtime To Poop? Here’s What To Do & Not Do

Wearing Clean Clothes

Clean clothes are necessary to have clean bodies. I remember one of my boys would take a bath and then throw his clothes back on.

My response: why did you even bathe?

Toddlers and preschoolers can be taught to recognize when clothes are too dirty to wear. They can also be great helpers when it comes to putting clothes away into their dirty hamper.

In my opinion, it’s never to early to start training them on this skill.

Knowing What Not to Touch

Germs… yes, they are everywhere.

But some places are way more nasty. Training young children on what things they should not touch is an important self-care skill.

Here are some “no touch areas” to consider:

The floors of public restaurants & restrooms
Other people’s open wounds
Any type of chemical or abrasive substance
Trash
Curious objects on the ground at parks/walkways/etc.
Sharp objects
Unfamiliar animals
Bodily fluids

Wound Care

Everyone get’s “boo-boos” from time to time. For some kids, this is fascinating.

An important self-care skill for toddlers and preschoolers is how to handle their wounds. Teach safety by cleaning, covering, and keeping clean their bug bites and scrapes.

Picking scabs is a hard habit to break, so it’s important to teach this skill early.

Also, teach cleanliness and safety when it comes to any wounds. Teach young children never to touch other people’s wounds or blood. Don’t pick up bandaids or other personal hygiene items, etc.

After Meals/Snack Habits

You can’t talk about self-care and hygiene for toddlers and preschoolers without talking about food. My kids aren’t the neatest eaters, but we are working on it.

I once observed a young child who insisted on inserting his entire finder in his mouth with each bite. Ha. And not when he was eating cheese puffs, which I feel warrants an exception.

Here are some tips on teaching table hygiene:

Wash hands before and after sitting down to eat.
Teach use of table napkin to wipe face and hands. This will help them avoid wiping their hands and face on their clothes, or not at all.
Certain toys or games may not be sanity for play at the table. I had a no toys rule at the table, but I know some parents really don’t mind. Nevertheless, if you kid was just pushing the toy truck across the bathroom floor, it may not need to be on his plate.
Clean up habits- it’s never too early to establish some healthy clean up routines. Pick up plate and put in sink, wipe down table/floor, etc.

How to Handle Animals

Pet’s are a wonderful way to teach responsibility and compassion. But, they can be messy from time to time. For toddlers and preschoolers, a good self-care lesson to teach is how to handle them.

Obviously, they shouldn’t handle animal waste or pet their animals if they are in desperate need of a bath. But there are some other things too:

Wash hands after handling pet’s food, supplies, or cages
Keep your pet’s kennel/bed clean and tidy
Teach children to keep pet supplies and food away from the place where we handle our food
Never allow your children to rough house or handle animals with force
Teach children to observe wildlife from a distance/never approach a wild animal

Chores

Whew, that’s a lot of work for mom.

50+ Life Skills (By Age!)

Each of our standards are different

How to keep a tidy house with small kids

Revisit your definition of tidy.

Work with your children not against them.

Downsize the knickknacks

Make daily sweeps

Organize well

101+ 15 Minute Projects

Tidy Routines That Even Small Kids Can Do

1. Bed Making & Morning Tidy

2. Cleanup After Playtime to Keep a Tidy Home

3. Get a Good Laundry System Down

Basic Laundry Tips

Tidy Routines CHECKLIST

4. Timed Clean-Up

5. Evening sweep

6. End-Of-Dinner Tidy Up

Tidy Routines CHECKLIST

What’s an “evening sweep?”

1. Do it before you sit down

2. Do it quickly with purpose

Tidy Routines CHECKLIST

3. Have the kids help before bed

4. Use a timer if need be

Tidy Routines CHECKLIST

5. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Plan ahead for special events.

Clean your vehicle out.

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Check scheduled appointments & make any necessary calls.

De-clutter under the sink & pantry.

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Sit down and really, I mean REALLY check your personal wellness.

Review local events & checking school calendars.

Plan your families prayer and devotion.

Go through kids clothing and get rid of items too small, stains, etc.

Get an overall food plan (eating out, cooking, etc.)

Start a new month in your gratitude notepad.

Plan ahead for outdoor family times.

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Reset monthly reading goals & revamp bookshelves.

Review your budget and pay bills.

Organize receipts, bills, and other misc. files.

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Clean out & organize closets.

Why is Self-Care & Hygiene Important to Teach Toddlers and Preschoolers?

50+ Life Skills (By Age!)

Washing Hands

Here are the steps for proper hand-washing:

Children should be taught when to wash their hands, as part of good hygiene.

Dental Care

Here is a good way to begin teaching this skill:

Dental hygiene is very important and begins at a young age. Teach these specific skills:

Bathing & Drying Off

Here are a few skills that you can begin to teach to your toddler & preschooler:

Blowing Nose & Covering Sneezes

Here’s where to start:

Toiletry Habits

Training tips for toddlers & preschoolers:

Wearing Clean Clothes

Knowing What Not to Touch

Here are some “no touch areas” to consider:

50+ Life Skills (By Age!)

Wound Care

After Meals/Snack Habits

Here are some tips on teaching table hygiene:

101+ 15 Minute Projects

How to Handle Animals

**Children should be taught when to wash their hands, as part of good hygiene.**