How To Motivate Children to Clean – Green! (and a Pinterest Games Contest)
In my household, it is sometimes a struggle to motivate children to clean (and by children, I mean also my husband) so today I’m going to give you, as part of a sponsored post for Mom Central Consulting and Green Works, 5 ways to motivate children to clean -Green!
And if you make it to the end, there’s information about a Green Works Pinterest Games Contest!
Last week when Benjamin was taking a bath I decided to clean the bathroom. He always wants me to sit and watch him, but I was feeling productive so I just started cleaning. All of a sudden he was cleaning the bathtub and talking about helping to clean the rest of the bathroom – “on a stayhome day”.
I realized when we both started sneezing that I was using a bleach cleaner. I should really start using something a little more friendly to our allergies, to the environment, and definitely something that I would feel safe with my boy using if he truly was going to help me clean.
I also realize that my child is a little different from most children because not all children are as motivated to help clean as mine. So, I’m bringing you a few tips for motivating children to help clean.
1. Pay your children to clean
I realize that money is not always the answer to motivate children to clean, but it can be an awesome incentive.
My boy likes quarters so he can play games or get trickets from the machines at the store so we offer him a quarter to clean from time to time.
When I was a preteen and teenager, my mom set money values on certain tasks around the house. I could iron for $0.50 per item or clean the bathroom for $1. We would keep a tally of our earnings and get an allowance at the end of the week.
2. Offer special privileges for cleaning
My boy just discovered his love for gaming on our Playstation so he is all about earning that privilege. We don’t let him play on school nights (learned that lesson the hard way) but he can earn time on the games by helping to clean throughout the week.
Maybe your child would like to earn a little extra TV time or staying outside to play just a little longer. Find what motivates your child and use it to your advantage.
3. Make cleaning a fun game
My boy loves music and dancing so we try to incorporate fun and work together. Turn on the radio or a favorite CD and clean together as a fun activity.
4. Let your child pick what cleaning they would prefer
Just because you want them to clean up their room instead of vacuuming doesn’t mean that is the cleaning your child would rather do. Give them options. If you take away their favorite thing to clean, they aren’t going to do their best work.
When I was growing up, I liked to clean the bathroom. It was partly due to the $1 earning (the most we could make in one task) but it was also due to my preference. I liked to get in there in my underwear or naked, lock the door, clean to my heart’s content, and then take a long bath or shower. I know, I was weird, but it was a motivator for me to do a good job!
5. Have cleaning supplies that are child-friendly
If your child’s favorite task is to clean the bathroom, like mine was, then you want to be sure to have a cleaning solution that is friendly for any allergies and safe for your child to use.
Yes, I know that even green cleaning supplies are not good for all children (especially younger ones) but do your research and know what your child can use.
Let me tell you a little about Green Work cleaning supplies (and then we’ll get to the Pinterest Games)
Green Works Cleaning Supplies
From the cooktop to the countertop, Green Works® Naturally Derived All-Purpose Cleaner powers through grease, grime and dirt without leaving behind harsh chemical fumes or residues. Green Works All-Purpose Cleaner is safe to use on multiple surfaces throughout the kitchen and bathroom, including counters, appliances, stainless steel, sealed granite, chrome, cooktop hoods, sinks and toilets.
Formulated using plant- and mineral-based biodegradable cleaning ingredients
Provides an easy and practical way to use naturally derived products without compromising cleaning performance
Packaged in bottles that can be recycled
Not tested on animals
Green Works All-Purpose Cleaner is now available with the innovative SMART TUBE® TECHNOLOGY that allows consumers to spray every drop of the liquid in spray bottles.
Green Works Pinterest Games!
How to Play:
- Follow @greenworksclean on Pinterest, create one pinboard and title it “GreenWorks Games”.
- Find, unscramble or complete a word and then find an image to match.
- For example, if the word is “natural” you might pin a lemon, flower, or whatever represents natural to you. Your pins should be reflective of your personality.
- Pin your answer and make sure to tag it with the word it represents and the hashtag #greenworksgames.
- Email a link to your Pinboard, including your name and date of birth to the following: .
- You will receive one entry into the Sweepstakes.
- One Grand Prize: a $500 Visa gift card.
- One entry per person, regardless of entry method.
- Here is an example of a completed Pinterest Board.
- Additional information on how to play can be found here and official rules here.
This all ends on October 2, so HURRY!
-Recent Comments-