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Motivating Kids to

Organize and Clean

by Maria Gracia Updated October 1, 2023 Join our newsletter to be notified when new content is added to our website. I remember a dental visit years ago, when I was absolutely delighted to be sitting in the waiting room watching a 3-year old sorting and straightening out the disheveled magazines, putting away toys that other kids had left out, and then proceeding the re-arrange the plants. She was adorable. Wouldn’t it be great if all kids had this need to organize and clean without any persuasion? This self-motivation isn’t always present, and usually fades for many kids by the time they realize that they’d much rather do something else with their time. Just like adults, kids need motivation boosts now and then as well…and most prefer that tact to nagging. Here are some ways to motivate and encourage your kids to organize and clean. • Don’t overwhelm them. Just like adults get overwhelmed, so do kids. If they see a huge job in front of them (like cleaning their room), they may run for the hills when asked to get it done, especially if they’ve allowed it to get really disorganized. Give them small TO DOs so they can get it done (gradually) and feel a sense of accomplishment. Perhaps tell them to pick up clothes from the floor and bring those items to the laundry, or to clean out one messy drawer, or to put their hair accessories in a basket. It’s OK if they only do this one task. They can do another tomorrow. • Make a big deal out of whatever they complete. We all like to feel that whatever we’ve done, that it was done well. Someone acknowledging this can make that feeling of accomplishment that much more satisfying. So, when your kids fold the towels and put them away, let them know what an awesome job they did…even if they’re not folded exactly the way you would have done them. • Make it a game. Younger kids thrive on games like “beat the clock” where they have to put things away or toss items into a hamper before the timer runs out…at which time, they can earn a prize, or points, or a chore-free night…something special that they’ll enjoy! Older kids may appreciate an allowance, or points towards something they’ve been hoping to buy, or time on their electronic devices. • Turn it into a family event. Get the music pumping while the whole families cleans and dances at the same time. When everyone cleans together, the job gets done a whole lot quicker. Have something fun to look forward to afterwards TOGETHER, like family movie night, game night, or paint-by-number night. • Ask them to choose a time, within a time range. All of us have “plans” regarding what we’re going to be doing with our time. For instance, I know that I am generally cooking a meal at 5:30PM. So if someone asks me to do something else at 5:30PM, it’s easy to get a bit agitated. This is the same with kids, even if their plans don’t seem very important to parents. Everyone has his or her own personal priorities. So, rather than interrupting whatever they’re doing and having them do whatever you’d like them to do right at that very second, ask them what time they would like to get the chore done…and give them a time range so they don’t respond with a time that is unreasonable. You may still have to gently remind them when it’s time to get it done, but it generally meets less resistance when a child feels they had a voice in his or her schedule. Back to Organized Kids Index