Encouraging your kids to pitch in with household chores can do more than help keep your house clean. According to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota, the best predictor of a child’s success is the age at which he or she begins helping with household chores. The research showed that by involving children in regular routines of cleaning and tidying up, parents instill a sense of responsibility, competence, self-reliance and self-worth in their children, which stays with them throughout their lives.

“Getting your kids involved in cleaning is a great way to spend How much time should be devoted to housekeeping? It depends.... Click to read our 'Time' entry for more information & tips...">time together as a family while teaching the importance of health and hygiene in the home,” said Dr. Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P., a board-certified pediatrician and award-winning author.Here are a few tips to help get the whole family engaged in household cleaning:• Choose family-friendly cleaning products: Be cautious when using cleaning products with or around young children. As children get older, they should be taught to handle with care, use as directed, and keep all cleaning products and sprays away from their eyes and mouth. When cleaning around young kids, look for family-friendly cleaning agents. One example of a less hazardous approach to cleaning surfaces is the use of a paste of This mild abrasive is also a decent deodorizer.Click to read our 'Baking soda' entry for more information & tips...">baking soda and This is the universal solvent for cleaning.Click to read our 'Water' entry for more information & tips...">water to scour Whether in the kitchen or bath, a sink’s material — not location — determines the cleaning method.
Click to read our 'Sink' entry for more information & tips...">sinks or tubs rather than a commercial cleanser. Another is using The pharmacy antiseptic makes a good, inexpensive spotting agent because of its mild bleaching action. It's also an effective germ-killing agent.Click to read our 'Hydrogen peroxide' entry for more information & tips...">hydrogen peroxide- rather than It's not just from a chlorine bottle anymore.Click to read our 'Bleach' entry for more information & tips...">bleach-based products to help kill germs (follow manufacturer directions). Some DIY pantry-based cleaners using Not an all-purpose cleaner, though it does have several effective uses around the house.Click to read our 'Vinegar' entry for more information & tips...">vinegar can be suitable for everyday use around kids and No question about it, pets can be a joy, but they will add to the housekeeping load.Click to read our 'Pets' entry for more information & tips...">pets.• Turn cleaning into a game: Incorporate game-style activities, like “hide and seek,” into an otherwise mundane cleaning routine. Ask your kids to spot areas that are unclean and you may be surprised how many they find!• Implement a rewards system: Give kids specific cleaning goals and reward them once the goals are completed. Using visuals such as a chore chart is a great way to keep kids on task, remind them to clean and to keep track of how often they are doing it. Give your kids stickers to place on the chart when they’ve completed a task and, if you like, provide modest rewards for collecting a specified number of stickers. While the real reward is a clean home, you can also offer anything from a family movie night to a reasonable allowance.• Tailor tasks to specific age groups: Give younger children simpler, one-step tasks like dusting or picking Experts recommend making sure you can clean toys before buying them.Click to read our 'Toys' entry for more information & tips...">toys up off the floor. Save the more complex jobs, such as Regular cleaning and proper technique will get you through this job quickly.Click to read our 'Vacuuming' entry for more information & tips...">vacuuming, scrubbing and disinfecting, for older kids.• Take How much time should be devoted to housekeeping? It depends.... Click to read our 'Time' entry for more information & tips...">time to educate: It’s never too early to educate your kids about germs! Help them identify and then tackle The bugs are everywhere — literally.Click to read our 'Bacteria' entry for more information & tips...">bacteria-rich surfaces, like door handles, Timeliness is key in cleaning the most heavily used room in the house.Click to read our 'Kitchen' entry for more information & tips...">kitchen Whether in the kitchen or bath, a sink’s material — not location — determines the cleaning method.
Click to read our 'Sink' entry for more information & tips...">sinks, Regular, thorough cleanings will make this job much easier.Click to read our 'Toilet' entry for more information & tips...">toilets and light switches. You can also teach them about household hygiene by getting and reading a free copy (plus shipping and handling) of Infection Prevention For Dummies from IEHA.