Train Young Children to Clean Their Rooms
By Natalie J. Hale

Children and clean bedrooms are rarely spoken in the same sentence. But we know that God is a God of order (D&C 132:8) and that we have been commanded to be the as he is (D&C 88:119). Parents have also been commanded to take this a step deeper and teach their children to do the same (D&C 68:25).

While children are still very young, it is an ideal time to take them by the hand and train them to become the responsible future citizens of society. The formulation of good habits while they are still very young will set them on the right track. And teaching them to maintain a clean bedroom is an ideal place to start.

Let’s take a textual walk through what often exists in most American children’s homes. I’ll address some common problems and introduce some proven solutions.

Solutions to Everyday Problems

Let’s start with the bed. Young children are simply incapable of maintaining a traditional American style bed, with layers of sheets, blankets, and comforters.  A child’s little arms can’t even lift these items, let alone spread them over a high box spring and mattress without creases. A proven solution is flip chairs.

Flip chairs, or bed chairs, are usually three pieces of inflammable foam zipped into a fitted case. When out flat, it serves as a mattress. Because there are no wood or metal parts, these beds are small and easy to fold and unfold. One pillow and warm blanket is usually sufficient bedding for the night. When morning arrives, the bed is folded into a chair, and the pillow and blanket go into a designated space in the closet. Problem handled.

Another pressing problem is the organization of toys — something we often find on kitchen counters, across the hallways and stairs, in couches, and strewn all over the bedroom floor. There are a few simple things to be aware of that drive home the solution:

• Organization predicates success. Everything needs a place to go; otherwise it will be on the floor, tripping everyone and getting destroyed. I've greatly remedied this with plastic bins. They are durable, affordable, and sold just about anywhere (try your local Wal-Mart or office supply store). I use them all over my house for toys, clothes, papers, tools, and anything else that will fit. For safety, don’t have in your kids’ rooms any bin system that is more than two bins high. Which leads me to the next point.

• Bring your child’s room down to his or her level. If they can’t reach the shelf, it’s going to be all the more difficult for them to safely put toys and/or clothes away.  Some toys, because they are designed for older children should be kept higher and preferably out of sight from the younger ones.

• Too Much Stuff is just too overwhelming.When you buy new toys, give the old ones your child hasn’t played with for a long time away for donation. This cuts down on the clutter and gives space in the room for the toys.

• Play with toys sequentially. After your child is done with a toy or a set of toys, the rule is to put it away before she brings out another set. This keeps the playtime messes in check. If a child is especially stubborn, gently take his hand and have him pick up the toy and put it in the bin. Then do it again with the next toy, and the next until the toys are put away.
  
• Teach through games and example.If you want your children pick up after themselves, set the stage. Get on the floor at pick up the toys with them, making it a game while teaching that cleaning up is just a natural part of play. Keep your own room in shape; that way your child can’t come back and say “But Mom, your room is just as messy as mine!”

• Nightly checks will stop problems early on. Every day takes a turn for the hectic, so take a few minutes every night before your child goes to bed to check her room with her and see if any of her things are out of order.  If they are, now is one final stop for putting the puzzle back in the box and return the books to the shelf.

Be Patient and Consistent

Anything worth having comes at a cost and is usually not instantaneous. And I’m sure we’d all agree that children who maintain orderly bedrooms are something worth having. Sticking to the rules, and making sure those rules don’t violate your child’s agency or God’s eternal principles, is the only solution.

Don’t expect your children to do as well a job as you. Sure you can make your child’s bed better and faster than she can, but she needs to learn that there are standards (like maintaining a clean room) and she also needs to be allowed to live up to them. These standards apply not only to a clean room, but also all aspects of one’s life. Dr. Phil McGraw uses the example of behavior to present this principle when he states:

Conclusion

Consistency, patience, and persuasion from you as the parent are keys to making these solutions work. Anything worth having usually comes at a high cost. And your child’s growth and development into a responsible citizen are well worth it. Heavenly Father is a God, our families have been commanded to emulate Him, and a clean room is an ideal start.