Raising small children is a wonderful experience, but it can also be quite messy. Keeping your home clean and tidy can be challenging, especially when you have young children who are naturally curious and playful. However, it is not an impossible mission.
Here are some practical tips to help you maintain a tidy home while also taking care of your little ones:
Use Storage Solutions
Invest in child-friendly storage solutions. Baskets, bins, and shelves at a height your children can reach make it easier for them to put their toys away. Labelling these storage spaces can also be a fun learning activity.
Less is More
Too many toys can lead to a lot of mess. Rotate toys every few weeks to keep your children’s interest alive and reduce clutter.
Likewise, consider downsizing on knickknacks, unnecessary furniture, and other items that take up space but don't add functional value to your home. The less you have, the less there is to get messy.
Make Tidying a Daily Habit
Take a few minutes each day to tidy up the house to keep the messes manageable. Do a quick sweep or vacuum, put away the clutter in the kitchen and wipe down surfaces.
Encourage your kids to do the same. Establish a daily tidy-up time and make it a fun activity that they can look forward to. This will keep your house clean and instil a sense of responsibility in them.
Involve Your Children
Make cleaning a family activity. Assign small tasks to your children, like putting away their toys, folding their clothes, or making their beds. Praise them for their efforts to motivate them.
Declutter Regularly
One of the most effective ways to keep your house tidy is to reduce the overall amount of stuff. Regularly go through your children's toys, clothes, and other belongings and donate or discard items that are no longer needed or used.
Create a Cleaning Schedule
To make cleaning tasks more manageable, establish a schedule and spread them out throughout the week. For instance, you could do laundry on Mondays and Thursdays, vacuum on Tuesdays, and clean the bathrooms on Wednesdays. Schedule deep cleaning tasks quarterly.
Set an Example
Children learn by observing. Keep your items organised and demonstrate good habits.
Be Realistic
Understand that with children, your house might not always be spotless—and that's okay. Revisit your definition of tidy and set realistic expectations for what can be achieved given your family's lifestyle.
A perfectly clean house all the time is not a realistic expectation when you have small children.
The goal is not perfection but a functional and reasonably tidy space where your family can thrive.
Embrace the Occasional Chaos
It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed by the clutter and mess that comes along with having small children in your home.
But don't worry—you've got this! With a little effort and some simple strategies, you can maintain a clean and tidy home while still enjoying the joys of parenting.
Just remember to embrace the occasional chaos and appreciate the love and memories that come with a lived-in home. Keep up the great work, and don't forget to give yourself credit for all that you do!