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Spring Cleaning with Kids

By: Author Jacquie Fisher

Posted on Published:

Categories Parenting

You’ll love these books & tips on how to include your kids in Spring cleaning!

It’s the official start of Spring, and if you’re like me, you’re itching to get some Spring cleaning done around the house!

Getting closets cleaned out, prepping the yard and cleaning out the clutter — why not have the kids help during this yearly event. 

It’s important for kids to learn some of these yearly chores. 

Really, you’re not doing yourself any favors by thinking “Oh, they’ll just be under foot.  I can get more done on my own“. 

While that may be true in some ways, by not including them the kids can’t learn important life skills as they grow older — and their future spouse will thank you one day if they know how to do a few things (we all know that’s true 🙂

Spring Cleaning with Kids

The key to spring cleaning with kids is to give them specific jobs that don’t take hours to do — and make it a little fun. 

Sing or play music while you clean. 

Use a timer so the kids know when a specific ‘job’ is done if that helps.

Or do a little cleaning and then break for a story before you finish the job if your tackling a big project. 

I’ve included some fun books about spring cleaning below along with their affiliate links.  Books are great because they ‘validate’ that this is an activity that lots of people do — cleaning is NOT just for Mamas but for the whole family!

My daughter’s new thing is to do one of her jobs and then go out and swing for a while.  Then she’ll come back to help with something else.

I’ve found that kids are usually helpful and attentive for about 30 minutes.  Then they begin to wane — so breaking large tasks that you want to tackle into smaller time chunks.

 

Here are a few age-appropriate things the kids can do during spring cleaning along with some fun books to read — PLUS we’ve had so many requests for a printable list so ….

Be sure to visit our other Spring Cleaning post for a FREE printable checklist!

 

Sorting Clothes & Closets:

  • Ages 3 – 4:  Help sort shoes – young kids know the difference between boots, sneakers and flip-flops so have them help get the winter shoes packed away and get   out the spring footwear. 
  • Ages 5 – 6:  Put folded clothes into their own drawers, and take out clothes that you tell them need to be packed away (for example, they can pull out all their sweaters and long sleeve shirts).
  • Ages 7 – 9:  Sort out their own closet – telling you which clothes are now too tight or too short.  Kids this age can also hang up their spring clothes in the closet or fold them (somewhat) and put them into drawers.
  • Ages 10+:  By this age, your kids probably tell you what’s no longer fitting or in-style all the time.  Have older kids help to sort and pack unwanted clothes for consignment or give-away.  Make sure they make a list for you if items are to be donated so you have it for tax purposes.

 

Clifford’s Spring Clean-Up is a fun way to introduce younger kids to some of the big tasks that families tackle during spring cleaning.  Of course, Clifford doesn’t always know the best way to help out so kids will also enjoy some of the antics that take place too.

 

Cleaning Windows:

  • Ages 3 – 4:  Help wipe lower parts of windows outside with damp cloth.
  • Ages 5 – 7:  Can use clothes to clean windows after an adult sprays them.
  • Ages 8+:  Should be able to spray window and then wipe them with cloth or newspaper (you will have to show them how to wipe so they aren’t streaks).

You can also see how we put together a kid-friendly DIY Cleaning Caddy so it’s easy for them to tote supplies with them as they clean.

 

Kids & parents alike will laugh out loud at some of the suggestions in How to Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps !  Definately not a book to use as a cleaning guide but one that is great for a laugh during any cleaning breaks 🙂

 

Yard Prep & Pick-up:

  • Ages 3 – 5:  Young kids can help pick up sticks, pick up any toys that have been forgotten about during the winter, and ‘help’ you rake if they have a kid-sized rake.
  • Ages 6 – 9:  In addition to clearing sticks and toys, kids of this age can also help to get mulch into flower beds and spread it around.
  • Ages 10+:  Older kids should be able to help rake, sweep steps and driveways, and help with watering if you are planting grass.

 

The Berenstain Bears Clean House shares how the Bear family does their spring cleaning.  But when Mama wants to have a yard sale to sell the tattered items, each item seems to be someone’s favorite thing.  A fun book for early readers who can begin to read this one on their own!

 

Organizing the Garage/Deck/Patio:

  • All Kids:  A good spring thing for all kids is to clean off outdoor toys, bikes, and sports equipment with a damp cloth – get rid of those spider webs and last year’s dirt!
  • Ages 6 – 8:  Kids of this age should know where bikes, toys and outdoor items belong and put them away when asked (again, a chalk ‘parking spot’ helps with bikes).  They can also help to clean outdoor furniture with a wet cloth & soapy water and go through old toys to get rid of those that are broken or they have outgrown.
  • Ages 9+:  Older kids can help sweep off the deck/patio, clean outdoor furniture, put away garden tools, and of course, keep their sports equipment stored properly. 

 

The first chapter of Poppleton in Spring is all about spring cleaning.  Poppleton realizes he has too much stuff — unmatched socks, buttons, a shelf of rocks — he needs to clean!  But what should he do with all the things he doesn’t want?  A great book to kick-start a conversation about having too much.

 

MORE IDEAS FOR GETTING ORGANIZED:

The Best Place to Begin Organizing Your Entire Home!

Organized Mornings: Tips & 20 Healthy Breakfast Ideas {w/free printable!}

5 Ways to Make Your Home More Kid-friendly

 

 

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50 Outdoor Activities for Kids

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