Once your kids are old enough (about 6 or 7), there’s no reason not to teach them how to clean their rooms! We’ve found it’s also great to let your inquiring minds know why it’s a good idea to clean up. Hint: keep germs at bay, helps their stuff last longer, and gives them more space to play!

If you (or your child) is a list maker, add these to to-dos: make your bed, pick up and wipe down toys, throw away trash, hang up and put away clothes, and wipe down screens (TVs, computers, video games). While they’re at it, it’s a good idea to encourage them to clean the door knobs, dresser handles, and any other surface they touch frequently.

Here’s a great article from ACI on how to get kids to do chores. Happy parenting!