Spring Cleaning With Kids

Girl cleaning wood kitchen table.Spring cleaning with kids.

With spring just around the corner, we're all looking forward to extended daylight hours and the season's warmer weather. 

We're planting flowers, airing the patio cushions, and checking the umbrella for mildew. In many parts of the country, though, it's not quite warm enough to move outside.

In the meantime, use cooler days to brighten up the indoors with a plan for spring cleaning with kids that gets the kids excited about this annual rite of home purification. 

Yes, it is possible, even probable, that your kids will get excited, motivated, and moving, too. Here's how.

The Secret To Spring Cleaning With Kids: Get Game

The secret to spring cleaning with kids? A game plan that starts with - well, fun games.

So, to make spring cleaning with kids more enjoyable, I've included two of my favorite cleaning games (one for younger kids, the second for older ones) that can increase the odds of a successful cleaning session.

bedroom-chores-girl-sheets

If helping out with cleaning is a new concept in your home, remember to take the fun approach. It's not only possible but also effective, as it's worked wonders for my three kids, the oldest of whom is now 13 and does his own laundry.

First however, you'll want to gather your cleaning supplies so you're ready for the kids and the fun and the spring cleaning to begin. Get a fun, colorful chore chart for the kids, like this one with sticker stars they can add themselves after completing a chore.

Below, I've broken down spring cleaning chores so that they're age-appropriate for your children. Here's how the kids can help you bring spring indoors. 

Spring Clean With Kids Chores for Under Age 2:

  •   Pick up inside (and outside) toys

Ages 3 - 5:

  • Previous chore plus:
  • Put away outside toys and games and all their pieces in the proper boxes or bins

Ages 6 - 9:

  • Previous chores, plus:
  • Take indoor plats outside for a gentle washing
  • Rake leaves
  • Sweep the patio and porches
  • Fish surface litter out of the pool (with a grown-up's supervision, of course)
  • Help test the pool or hot tub water
  • Help clean the pool strainer baskets

Ages 10 - 13:

Boy and girl watering garden.Spring cleaning with kids.
  • Previous chores plus:
  • Weed gardens
  • Clean refrigerator coils

Ages 14 - 17:

  • Previous chores plus:

Games for Spring Cleaning With Kids

We've got games to get the cleaning party started:

"Grimy to Glamorous"

clean-family-20

When it's time for a spring cleaning session, have the family don sweats and labor the day away, dragging rags and pails. 

In the evening, the family puts on their "night-out" best and heads out to dinner and a movie, something everyone enjoys together.

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

"Bop While You Mop"

Turn on your favorite upbeat music while you clean. Watch your kids howl as you sing along and do the Bump with the vacuum and the Macarena with the duster. 

You get the picture—a smiling group making short work of housework. Fill the house with positive energy, not grumbling. We rotate the DJ selection in our home to keep the peace.

We judge the results (say, a floor), not the mopper (the child), and everyone pitches in to make it a winner.


You Might Like These:

  • This guide to bedroom kids chores by age can help keep cleaning expectations for children realistic. Once a child reaches a certain age or skill level, he can generally do the bedroom kids chores for his age group and the age groups below.

    Bedroom Kids Chores by Age

    This guide to bedroom kids chores by age can help keep cleaning expectations for children realistic. Once a child reaches a certain age or skill level, he can generally do the bedroom kids chores for his age group and the age groups below.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • YTeaching kids household chores. You want household chores to be shared by everyone in the family. But are you sabotaging those beginner efforts instead of encouraging them?

    Teaching Kids Household Chores: 10 Rules

    YTeaching kids household chores. You want household chores to be shared by everyone in the family. But are you sabotaging those beginner efforts instead of encouraging them?

  • 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!

  • Bathroom chores for kids and the age they can generally do by them. They do help muck it up, after all.)

    Bathroom Chores for Kids by Age

    Bathroom chores for kids and the age they can generally do by them. They do help muck it up, after all.)

  • Monthly house chores for kids. This is the monthly house chores schedule that works best for me. Your list will differ depending on how many kids you have and how old they are,

    Monthly House Chores for Kids by Age

    Monthly house chores for kids. This is the monthly house chores schedule that works best for me. Your list will differ depending on how many kids you have and how old they are,