Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

Why your kids should do their own spring cleaning – none of you will regret their little helping hands

Everyone benefits when the kids help with spring cleaning

Lauren Barth
By

There are two types of people in this world: those who love spring cleaning and those who absolutely dread it. Let’s face it, spring cleaning can be a daunting task because there’s so much to tackle. Not only do you need to do your regular, everyday cleaning, but when it comes to spring cleaning, you also want to do a deep clean, declutter, and organize everything in sight. 

Quite honestly, it can be a lot for one or two people to take on. This is why it’s important to include all members of the family when it comes time to roll up your sleeves. Involving all members of the family in spring cleaning, including your children, means you can divide the work and get things done faster. You’ll also teach your kids a little something about responsibility and teamwork at the same time. Yes, those anti-cleaning cutie pies of yours should be an active part of this annual affair. 

Recommended Videos

Ready to dust, mop, pile, and sort as a family? Here are a few tips for spring cleaning with kids.

Little girl cleaning her home

Why kids should participate in spring cleaning

Kids are often more capable than we give them credit for. While it’s often easier to let them sit and watch us hard at work, parents should encourage them (okay, fine, force them) to help out with regular chores. They are active participants in the household and most likely contribute to the overall mess, so why shouldn’t they also be active participants in cleaning it up?

That truth bomb aside, spring cleaning can actually teach your kids some important life skills. Organizing is a huge part of your annual spruce-up, and it’s great for children to see how keeping things orderly and neat can help make things simpler and streamlined at home. What’s more, allowing them to take responsibility for their dirty laundry, clean clothes, toy storage, and bedrooms empowers them to be more responsible for their own belongings. As your children learn to take ownership and do a good job, they will feel begin to feel a sense of self-satisfaction, just like you do!

Little girl organizing her closet

Kids’ spring cleaning tips and chores

Your kids may have a few household chores they’re responsible for already, but if they don’t, now’s the perfect time to assign them. There are plenty of kid-appropriate spring-cleaning activities that they can do themselves:

  • Sorting clothes: ‘Tis the season to organize those closets. Put winter gear into storage and pile up any clothes they have outgrown. Make sure your child understands that these items can be donated to help someone in need. This will open up your child’s eyes to realize that their spring cleaning has a larger and more meaningful impact.
  • Toy curation: Similarly, it’s time to pare down the junk. Make a goal to have your kids identify a certain number of toys to be donated. This can be hard for children, but again, they will feel good knowing they are contributing to their community. 
  • Organize books: Have your kids go through their vast library, wipe down shelves, dust off books, and organize them in a deliberate way. They can alphabetize books or create a rainbow display. Either way, it’ll keep them occupied, keep them cleaning, and keep them using their brains.
  • Dusting, wiping, and vacuuming: Yes, your kids can actually clean, too. Just be aware of chemicals in certain cleaning products and take precautions. Make it fun by blasting the music, having a dance party, and getting the house to look sparkly together.
  • Wash the car: This is one job your kids will definitely enjoy! On a warm day, have them put on bathing suits and give the cars a good wash. They’ll enjoy the soapy, sudsy fun task. But don’t stop there — also have them empty out any items that have been accumulating in your vehicle (jackets, toys, food wrappers, etc.). They’ve all got to go!
Daughter placing money in piggy bank as the mom watches

Should you incentivize your kids?

While the satisfaction of a hard day’s work should be reward enough, it might not cut it for your kiddos. What’s more, it is important to show them gratitude for their eager participation. Celebrate your efforts with a pizza party, ice cream date, movie night, or mini prize. 

Sharing is caring even when it comes to chores. Spring cleaning should not be a one-person gig. You can come together as a family to knock every single task off that lengthy checklist in no time. Get your kids involved and they will take responsibility, feel empowered, and maybe even learn that messes don’t clean themselves. Everyone needs to do their part.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Lauren Barth
Lauren Barth
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Lauren Barth is a freelance writer and digital editor with over a decade of experience creating lifestyle, parenting, travel…
Need to clean out the playroom? This is where you should donate toys
Need help on where to donate toys to tidy up your child's room? We have the local spots to go to first
A child's room that's a bit messy with toys and items all over

Between holidays, birthdays, and "just because" moments, the playroom and kids' bedrooms fill up pretty quickly with all sorts of items. If you want to declutter that toy room and get rid of the things your children no longer play with, donating will teach your kids to help others while letting you see the floor again. Instead of the places that are the usual stops for toy donations near you, try these other places first.
Local Buy Nothing group
If you don't know about your local Buy Nothing group, please look into it. It's a safe place to swap, give away, or ask for items or services completely free of charge. Sure, we'd all like to get a few bucks back from our child's toys, but if you don't want to go through that hassle, this is the best option. You don't even have to leave the house if you're more comfortable with porch pickups in your neighborhood.
Ask hospitals what they could use
Hospitals have tighter rules about what they can take, but it's never a bad idea to ask. The hospital would be the best for when you purchased something, it was the wrong size or item, and now you can't return it. Though items still in the packaging and with tags are always preferred, there are exceptions. Call and ask what your local hospital would take.
Reach out to local day cares/schools
If your children have ever gone to day care, you know how quickly they ask for donations. Day cares are open to more kinds of things, not just toys, so if you need to do a bit of an overhaul in your kids' rooms, ask your local day care facilities. The schools in your area are a great go-to, as well. Teachers always need classroom supplies, and the younger grades would need toys, books, and even clothing for when accidents happen.
Parent groups
Whether you're in a bunch of Facebook groups or are part of a group that meets in person, ask people you already know if they could use some toys your children have outgrown. You have a rapport with these other parents, and if you meet up in person, you could bring the items along and not have to make another stop.

Women's and children's centers in your area
For your donations to make a bigger impact, make sure women's and children's centers are on your list. If you were a struggling parent, you know how much it means to have a place like that to go to when in need. If you're a parent who doesn't have to struggle, pay it forward and count your blessings by donating to one.

Read more
Funny science jokes kids will love – and you might just enjoy them, too!
Why can't you trust atoms? They make everything up! Gotta love science jokes
Smiling girl with chemistry set

Why is it so hard to get kids up in the morning? Sir Isaac Newton knows! Newton's first law says it all: "A body at rest wants to stay at rest." Getting kids to love science is a tough sell as children get older. Younger kids typically enjoy science because the subject is a fun hands-on one. Around middle and high school, though, the interest in science tends to wane.

Science jokes are a wonderful icebreaker that works to get kids thinking and make them laugh. Don't confuse science jokes with dad jokes. They're similar since both rely a bit on puns, but science jokes have a purpose, too, and are rooted in subjects like biology, physics, and chemistry. Sure, science jokes make kids smile and giggle, which is always a plus; science jokes for kids are a great way to ignite an interest in science. When the kids are done chuckling, you can talk about why the joke is funny.
Science jokes for kids
Whether you're a teacher looking for science jokes to start off a lesson or anyone who just loves the subject and making the kiddos laugh, here are the top science jokes to put under the microscope.

Read more
The best youth sports for nonathletic kids who want to compete
Want your children to engage in some sporty competition without all of the athletic hang-ups? Here are some options
Kids scaling a rock wall

Unless you're LeBron James or Lionel Messi, there's no guarantee that your kid is going to be athletic. And even then, there's a chance the next generation will either lack the coordination or interest (or both) to compete on the court or field. But that's not the point when it comes to youth sports, is it?

We sign our kids up for soccer camps and basketball not to jumpstart their pro careers but to offer experiential learning and physical activity. Kids' sports can teach all kinds of great lessons, from teamwork and resilience to strategy and sportsmanship. But what is a parent to do when the kiddos are genuinely nonathletic? Find the right sport, of course.

Read more