It doesn't matter whether you're a stay-at-home or working parent. Teaching your children how to clean and stay organized will improve your life, as well as theirs! Teach your children good cleaning habits by being neat and tidy yourself. Hanging up clothes and putting things away after you use them sets a good example for children to follow. Here are some ways to encourage your children to clean up after themselves and organise their things:

1. Help your children decorate boxes, baskets, and plastic tubs for toy storage so that they will be personalised and encourage use.

2. Plastic tubs can be stored under beds and in closets.  Decorated baskets and shoe boxes look great on bookshelves.  Keep board games on shelves, small toys in small containers, medium sized toys in medium size containers, and reserve toy boxes for large items.

3. Five minutes before bedtime, get the kids to put their “stuff” away (even the adults too!). Praise your children for keeping their toys and books organised, and be certain to have them note how nice it is to wake up in a clutter free home!

4. Store half of your children’s toys and switch them around every few months. They'll have “new” toys to play with and will be able to keep fewer toys organised.

5. Get the children pick out some that they don't play with anymore whenever you're 'swopping' the toys around. Pack these up and donate them to the Salvation Army, friends, or relatives.

6. Put up hooks and pegs on the backs of room door and on the insides of closet doors for quick hang-ups when the children come in.

7. Assign each child a different color towel and make sure they hang it up after every use. Explain that this not only keeps the bathroom clean, it saves water making your home a “greener” environment.

8. Let  the children help you in the kitchen. They can wash vegetables while you prepare meat for cooking; set the table while you chop veggies; help clean the table while you load the dishwasher.  Don’t expect perfection, but always praise them for helping out!

9. Let children listen to music while they are cleaning.  If they don’t have iPods, play a cd everyone likes and take breaks to dance a bit!

10. Set aside a period of time each week for children to dust and vacuum their rooms, clean under the beds etc… To set a good example, be certain to clean your room at the same time!  Make a game out of it with a timer and be certain to schedule quality family time after as a reward.  Keeping their room clean will become a good habit and something to celebrate.

[Extracted from: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/how-to-get-your-kids-to-clean-and-organize-1193526.html]

Do you have other ways of encouraging your children to clean up and organise their stuff? Do share with us.

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