House Cleaning With Kids:
5 Fun Games

Mom and daughter cleaning bedroom.

House cleaning with kids is more manageable when cleaning is fun for everyone involved. (Or at least as fun as cleaning can be.)

It isn't all that hard to make house cleaning fun - or at least less unfun. And with everyone onboard - or at least not whining or griping about house cleaning as much - you can get your home clean each week.

Does it get any better than this? Here are five of my favorite games for bumping up the fun factor to get house cleaning with kids happening.

1.   Make House Cleaning With Kids A Family Affair

House cleaning with kids means just that - Mom and Dad get into the cleaning action, too!  After all, if everyone is working, it's more fun.

2.   Pump Up the Volume

Turn on upbeat music while you and the kids clean. You get the picture - a smiling group making short work of house cleaning. Fill the house with positive energy, not grumbling.

3.   Saturday Morning Players

This saved (or sunk)-by-the-lunch bell approach to getting it all done by lunchtime Saturday was designed for the revolving-door family whose weekly chores occasionally get sidetracked by tests, book reports, and science projects or meetings.

Whatever assigned chores are not accomplished during the week are due by noon Saturday.

This creates a high-energy cleaning session as Saturday morning becomes a high-speed race to the noontime finish. (Mom note: Never volunteer to drive soccer carpool Saturday mornings, so this can happen.)

4.   Delegate Pride

I call this the "Room Monitor System." Each month, assign a different family member a separate room as his or her point of pride.

This means that before lights out, that family member has to give the room the once-over to make sure that it's in good shape. Assign the little ones the rooms that won't be used past their bedtimes, such as the dining room.

At the end of the month, the family member who has kept the best room gets a special treat, such as his or her choice of a family afternoon or night out.

5.   Cinderella Saturdays

When a big cleanup day is necessary, have the family don sweats and labor the day away dragging rags and pails, a la Cinderella.

In the evening, with a wave of the fairy godmother's wand, the family dresses up and goes out to dinner and a movie, or whatever everyone enjoys together.

Looking forward to a magical family outing makes even the longest list of chores palatable, especially when they're done together. 



You Might Like These:

  • Living room chores for kids. Here's a guide to which living room chores kids can do at what ages. Once a child reaches a certain skill or age level he do chores for the age groups below.

    Living Room Chores for Kids by Age

    Living room chores for kids. Here's a guide to which living room chores kids can do at what ages. Once a child reaches a certain skill or age level he do chores for the age groups below.

  • Yearly kids chores by age. Which yearly kids chores can you reasonably expect kids to help with? Here's a simple guide to age appropriate annual chores.

    Yearly Kids Chores by Age

    Yearly kids chores by age. Which yearly kids chores can you reasonably expect kids to help with? Here's a simple guide to age appropriate annual chores.

  • Party clean up with kids. The party is over - and the mess remains. It's time for party clean up. Kids can help with these post-party jobs so everyone can call it a night.

    Party Clean Up With Kids

    Party clean up with kids. The party is over - and the mess remains. It's time for party clean up. Kids can help with these post-party jobs so everyone can call it a night.

  • Why not just give up and close the door? Because bedroom cleaning with kids now will teach them the essentials they need to know as they go on in life.

    Bedroom Cleaning with Kids

    Why not just give up and close the door? Because bedroom cleaning with kids now will teach them the essentials they need to know as they go on in life.

  • Pet chores for kids. At what age can a child help clean the litter box? Wash the dog? These pet chores by age can help you decide which chores are appropriate for your kids.

    Pet Chores for Kids by Age

    Pet chores for kids. At what age can a child help clean the litter box? Wash the dog? These pet chores by age can help you decide which chores are appropriate for your kids.

  • Before you start bathroom cleaning with kids, gather your arsenal of cleaning supplies. Now, we'll cover cleaning each area of the bathroom in detail. Grab the kids!

    Bathroom Cleaning With Kids

    Before you start bathroom cleaning with kids, gather your arsenal of cleaning supplies. Now, we'll cover cleaning each area of the bathroom in detail. Grab the kids!

  • A simple guide to age appropriate daily kids chores by age that you can reasonably expect your child to help out with.

    Daily Kids Chores by Age

    A simple guide to age appropriate daily kids chores by age that you can reasonably expect your child to help out with.

  • When doing laundry with kids, you'll need to go over the laundry basics to prep them for the dirty jobs ahead. These tips and strategies can help.

    Doing Laundry With Kids

    When doing laundry with kids, you'll need to go over the laundry basics to prep them for the dirty jobs ahead. These tips and strategies can help.