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Spring Into Cleaning
Tips to Get Your Home Spic and Span and Safe This Season By Cara J. Stevens
Fun for the Whole FamilyWhatever you decide to do on your own, make it a group activity. Young children, toddlers especially, love to have chores and little tasks to do. "Even really little ones can get in on spring cleaning," says Smallin. "Put a sock on their hand and have them wipe the dust off the baseboard."
My 2-year-old loves to be on "dryer duty" she is in charge of loading and emptying the dryer on laundry day. For weekly cleaning, she has her own dust mop I remove one of the links on the handle to adjust the dust broom to her height, and off she goes around the house, picking up dust as she plays!
Young children can also get involved with putting their toys away or even sorting outgrown clothes to a donation pile.
Capitalize on this eager energy now they won't be this helpful or enthusiastic forever, but if you start early, it paves the way for a great parent/child partnership in the future. "You don't have to do it all yourself," says Smallin. "When you all work together, it's quality time, and you get to share the accomplishment and have a reward at the end."
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