By Emma Lawson:
Any parent will tell you that children who sit and play quietly are more an exception than a rule. Children like making a mess. They enjoy making mud cakes, playing “the floor is lava,” and scattering their toys all around. As children, they are entitled to it, but as a parent you want a clean home. You might feel as if you need to clean all day, every day, in order to make progress, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
An early bird
The moment your children wake up, they will need you — to make their breakfast, to help them find their socks and toys, and to play with them. The easiest way to get any work done is to do it while they’re sleeping, so wake up early, and use that peace and quiet to your advantage. Have your cup of coffee, take a quick shower, and slowly do the dishes and laundry.
Get nice bins and baskets for their room, and teach them to put their toys in them after they’ve finished playing. You can also turn a bookshelf on its side, put a foam cushion on it, and tuck baskets inside; then, let your kids use it as a storage bench. These small things will save you a lot of time, and your children will learn a valuable lesson about keeping things neat and tidy.
You will have a lot of kid clutter. That’s a fact. So, you’ll need and want a massive purge. Go through your children’s rooms — drawers, closets and shelves — one at a time. Put everything into “keep” and “discard” piles, keeping only the most important items. Simply get rid of the rest: give it away or donate it. Voila – decluttered rooms.
Involve the Kids
If you keep cleaning up after them all the time, they will never learn to tidy up on their own. It’s important to involve children in the cleaning process. Something as simple as picking up their toys or helping to collect the dishes after a meal will not be a problem, especially if they see it as a game.
A Trick for Dusting Less
We could dust and dust and dust several times a day, but still there would be more dust by the time we finish. This is why it’s great to use an air purifier for dust — not only is it convenient for removing dust particles from the air, but it’s also great if you have allergies because it will improve the air quality. Air purifiers will save time on chores, and they’ll prevent your lungs from becoming filters.
It’s important to remember that your house doesn’t have to be clean 24/7. Your children won’t remember spotless floors, but they’ll remember the time they spend playing, learning, and cuddling with you. You might be a parent, but you should let your inner child free from time to time, too.