Best selling author of the The Child Whisperer, Carol Tuttle shares tips on getting kids to clean their rooms. First, you need to recognize your child's cleanliness quotient because we all don't have the same level of clean! If your cleanliness quotient is different than your child's it could be interfering with the learning of cleanliness habits that will support them through their life.
Here is how you can identify what type of child you have:
Type 1 fun-loving child - likes things out and about, colored bins for different colored belongings make it more fun to clean your room. Employ their high-hearted nature in the decor of their room, a light and airy space. Can have the highest movement in their space, let things go, and then clean it up, rather than keep it clean all the time. Cleanliness Quotient - Lowest
Type 2 sensitive child - has a tendency to collect and even hoard things. They are the pile makers. Once a month, help them go through their belongings and sort though things to put back in their place, let go of items that can be captured in a picture. Let them have their own instagram account to keep a connection with things that they have a fond memory of. Low to medium low movement in their space, so they can have things out and around but they do like comfort and if it gets too messy it`s uncomfortable. Cleanliness Quotient - Medium
Type 3 determined child - easily can let go of things, don`t want to spend a lot of time making beds and cleaning rooms, so make it easy so they can do it quick. One comforter with no sheets, bins to throw belongings in to, have fast can you clean your room. Medium to high medium of movement in their space, they don`t mind things a little messy, but they prefer that what they own have a practical purpose. Cleanliness Quotient - Medium
Type 4 more serious child - needs authority of their space and belongings. They are the most naturally able to create an efficient system of cleaning when you employ their natural gift for this. Ask the how they want to keep their room clean. Lowest movement in their space, their nature prefers to have negative space and no movement. so they are the most likely to keep it clean all the time. Cleanliness Quotient: High
Tips to motivate a child to clean a room true to their cleanliness quotient:
1. De-clutter the room. Is there too much stuff to easily keep their room clean?
2. What example do you set? Is your room clean?
3. Bedroom ownership. A child is more motivated to care for something the feel ownership of. In the case of a shared room, let them personalize their part of the room.
4. Let them have a say in how it`s decorated and in choosing their bedding
5. Let them operate true to the cleanliness quotient, without requiring their room to be neat and tidy all of the time. Learn to shut the door!
For more great information from Carol, go here.
