A Fun Cleaning Game for Children

Ask your children to clean the house. Most likely, they would scowl, whimper, complain, and make excuses to avoid the chore. For them, watching TV shows, playing video games and toys, or going out with friends offer more fun. What if you can find a way to make house cleaning a game? Kids love playing, and if there is some way that you can convince them that doing the chore is not work, then they would start to view household cleaning as fun. Here is an idea on how to do just that:

Cut small pieces of paper, and on each one, write the name of a particular room or area of the house. Fold or roll the papers in a hat or cookie jar. Next, gather your children then tell them that they are going to play an exciting game. Also tell them that there will be prizes for the winners. The words "game" and "prizes" will instantly ring a bell that says fun in the minds of children.

Have them pick up the pieces of paper in the hat with each child taking a piece. He is then assigned to clean that particular room or area of the house. For a competitive streak, tell them that the one who cleaned his designated space best will get a prize. In another variation, you can have the children pick up a room. Everyone goes to that portion of the house in a cooperative effort to clean it. Once this is done, they pick another piece of paper representing another room to tidy up.

Finally, reward the winners with prizes. As a general treat for a job well done, take them to a theme park, buy them some ice cream and sweets, or take them to the mall.