Cleaning with kids: how to clean your house with the kids about
By: sharon
TAGS: chores cleaning house household
Do you sometimes wonder why you bother cleaning your house with littlies around? You start a job only to be interrupted by, ‘I’m bored!’, ‘mum, he won’t stop looking at me!’, or, ‘I need the potty!’
If you’re really unlucky, you’ll find that lovely, clean basket of laundry tipped on the floor and stomped on, or the toys you’ve packed away strewn across the house already.
It’s frustrating when a job that should take ten minutes takes an hour thanks to all the disruptions.
Those books we read when we were pregnant are no help: ‘let the housework go!’ I’m sure that would go down a treat if I sent my daughter to school in filthy clothes! What rot. The point is, housework’s a pain, but it’s got to be done.
My focus is on getting the house half decent without the kids getting in the way too much. Here are eight ways I do just that; try them out for yourself to see if they help:
1) Have a cleaning ‘to do’ list
If your kids are over three years old, you can involve them in reading the list together. This gives them a concept of what they can expect from you for the day. I find the kids cooperate more on days I do this. I let them ‘help’ to tick completed chores off. I’ve recently discovered a site called chorewars.com and the kids and I love clicking the button on the game each time a chore is done.
2) Set a timer
Tell the kids this is your cleaning time. If they play nicely together or help, they will be rewarded with an activity afterward. Activities include reading stories with mum, or a visit to the park or library. Give your kids lots of praise if they do this.
3) Keep them busy while you’re cleaning
Offer an activity so engrossing that your kids will forget you’re there. I avoid messy play at this time, for obvious reasons! Ideas include:
- Construction toys like lego or building blocks.
- Puzzles
- Saucepans and spoons for babies to bang
- Take all your chairs out of your dining room and move them into the lounge room. Arrange them single file into a ‘train’. Your kids will happily pretend to ride/drive the train as you get easy access to the dirty floor under the dining table. Sometimes my kids get so caught up in this imaginary play that I get a few other jobs done after cleaning the floor as well.
- An electronic swing is handy if you have a baby that is fed, changed and sleepy but unsettled. How great is it that we can settle our babies as we work?
Don’t forget sleep times. If you’re lucky enough to have kids that still nap, get some work done then. If it suits you to wait until they’re in bed at night, that works too.
4) Work where they play
If you need to clean up the yard or hang clothes outside, do it when the kids are playing outdoors. I like to clean the bathroom while my 3 and 5 year olds are having a bath together. I can get a lot done as they play. I only do this once they’re past the baby stage. I watch them constantly and ensure I have all cleaning supplies handy before I start.
When I’m busy working, that’s when my kids like to get into mischief! Being able to keep an eye on them as I work means I’m less likely to need to stop what I’m doing to deal with disasters they seem to cause when I’m not looking.
5) Try to hurry
I prefer to get more jobs done quickly than to spend an hour doing one job to perfection. I feel as though I’ve achieved more afterward.
6) Double up
I try to have at least two jobs running whenever possible. I don’t start cleaning until the washing machine is turned on. When possible, I like to have dinner started in the slow cooker in the morning and forget about it. If I can cook a double batch of any given meal, one half can be frozen, which saves time.
7) Let your kids help
I find the kids are less likely to distract me if they’re actively involved. My younger two love to have paper towel to wipe surfaces with. My eldest daughter, if she’s on holidays or it’s the weekend can help to make breakfast, lunch or even a salad for dinner (usually one of these meals, not all!) leaving me more time to tackle the cleaning. At that age, there are plenty of cleaning jobs she can be given too.
8) Back to that chores list
I’ll let you in on a secret; I rarely complete everything on that list, most days. When you’re finished, throw the list away. It’s there to guide you on where your efforts would be best spent that day. It’s not a tool to make you feel like a failure.
There’s always tomorrow! Look at your house. Does it look perfect? Probably not. Does it look cleaner and more organised than it did this morning? Highly likely. If you can look at it this way, suddenly your efforts feel as if they were worth the effort.
What do you find hardest about trying to clean your house with little ones around? Do you have any tips to share?
sharon
A qualified childcare worker turned stay-at-home mum of three, Sharon is passionate about fostering creativity and self-expression in children. She wants mothers to see themselves as more than the invisible lady that everyone dumps their bags and dirty clothes on. She writes the blog, Hear Mum Roar.
Showing 10 comments
I want get my kids involved, so I buy non-toxic cleaning products (eg "method" or "vanilla fresh"). Means that I can spray the windows or table and Mr 4 can wipe them down (which he loves!)
I use a timer too and it works so well.
I'm big on the whole 'complete the cycle' idea that Peter Walsh talks about - it stops me from adding to the mess, then I just set my timer for 15 mins at the end of each day and pick up everything.
LOL, Bluebell at the vac dying! I'm the same, I love giving my kids messy play usually, but not when I'm trying to clean. It just defeats the whole purpose.
I'm not in Adelaide, but I know you can get carpet sweepers at Big W if that helps:)
Even better when they switch off the vacuum cleaner when they just want to tell you something. I thought it had "died" the 1st time. Markers and paper weren't a good idea. The painted wall "became" paper. Not happy Jan !!! They get into mischief whiule you are on the phone too. Does anybody In Adelaide know where you can get a standard carpet sweeper from ??. Mine has worn out from years of use.
I do too, Melissa, it's a clear start and finish sort of boundary and they know you're not going to be unavailable forever. They also learn that what you are doing is also important. It is lovely when you work where they're playing, I often find they come out with some funny things and I have a giggle to myself! Takes my mind off the boring task ahead
I've heard that has worked for mums too, Antonia:) I really should get one or two:P We also used to have a dust buster and a carpet sweeper and the kids liked to join in with that too. I really want to get a few more carpet sweepers. We got rid of our other one during the move. Doh!
I love the idea of setting a timer. My boys are always very demanding of my attention (they are two and four) but a timer would help them learn the difference between 'work time' and 'play time' and more importantly that any 'work time' soon ends. Working where they play and making play of housework are also nice ideas.
hahaha. I was in the same boat, and then i bought a vacuum cleaner for my son, and now he vacuums with me, and has upgraded to my vacuum cleaner. It def helped making it fun by buying him a toy dyson that makes noises.
Carmel, do you have an ergo baby carrier or any slings similar to that? That could be one way to do it. There's a few other options: buy a $30 carpet sweeper (doesn't make noise) and then maybe vacuum if/when you can get someone else to take your little one outside, away from the action. My youngest two were scared of the vacuum as well, but over time, they've slowly gotten used to it.
One of my biggest challenges of cleaning and having a 14 month old around is he hates the vacuum. This means any vacuuming has to be done one handed. Any tips?