Spring Cleaning With Toddlers

It's that time of year again! Time for some spring cleaning, organization and purging! As much as I hate cleaning, it's really hard to deny how good it feels to open up all the windows and let the breeze blow into your thoroughly scrubbed house, free of crap/clutter, which smells lemony-fresh. Today I'm joining forces with an amazing group of mom bloggers to bring you all kinds of posts on spring cleaning and organization. We've got everything - including how to get your kids involved in cleaning (right here!), spring cleaning printables/schedules, prepping a spring garden, organizing closets, favorite essential oils for cleaning and much, much more! See the list at the end of this post for all the topics and links to each blog post. ALSO - there's a fun little spring cleaning GIVEAWAY at the end of this post to help you with your cleaning, so keep reading!

One of the best (and worst, sometimes) things about the kids getting older is that they want to do everything I'm doing. I love that they want to help, but let's face it...one and three-year-olds usually make more messes than they help clean up. However, we have found some things that toddlers, preschoolers and little kids can help with, that they love doing and (if properly supervised) doesn't cause too horrible of a mess! I try to involve the kids in cleaning around the house as much as I can, even if the chore isn't something that they can completely do on their own. My theory is that they'll get a little better at the project each time they do it and eventually will be able to do some of these things on their own and be proud of themselves for helping out. Or this could totally backfire and they'll both despise helping me with anything around the house by the time they're five. You never know!

Mac, in particular, is a great helper. He loves "projects" and is one of those kids that just gets into trouble if he's not focused on something or involved in whatever it is that we're doing. We've gotten very good and figuring out what projects he can do on his own, what he can do supervised and what he wants to do, but still needs help with. At almost-four, he's a big help around the house when he wants to be - the key is getting him motivated and making him feel like he's doing independent tasks that help everyone out. We have a list of chores stuck to the refrigerator that he can do on his own, which we give him anytime he's bored and needs a good distraction. Here's a great list of chores that are appropriate from kids 18 months - 5 years old. 

INSIDE:

Pick up toys in the playroom

Stack or re-shelve books in bedroom

Feed dog/cat and refill water bowl

Take plate to sink after meals

Wipe down countertops and tabletops after meals

Suck up dog hair with handheld vacuum

Put dirty clothes in hamper or down laundry shoot

Put away clean towels

Make bed

Help match socks out of laundry

Wash windows and doors

Clean mirrors with spray

Wipe up spills with rags/towels

Vacuum main living areas

Carry groceries from car to house

Rinse dishes in sink

Water plants

Put away groceries

Help restock diaper changing area

Dust shelves/bookcases

Clean out areas under bed and under couches

Put away all shoes and hang up coats/jackets

Bring small trashcans to kitchen for consolidation

OUTSIDE:

Sweep out garage

Rake leaves

Fill holes with dirt

Help plant seeds for garden

Water plants

Pull weeds

Pick up sticks

Help take trash to curb

Help return recycle bin to house

Clean windows and glass doors

Help wash cars

Sweep front/back porch

Bring in mail and newspapers

Wash cars

Wash outside of house with hose

Mac's favorite chores are vacuuming with the Dust Buster (which he received from Santa last year!), washing the windows, sweeping the garage, raking the leaves, shoveling snow, watering the plants and helping with the landscaping outside. Not surprisingly, the dirtier the job and the more gear it involves, the more he loves it. Also, anything that Ryan does, Mac wants to do too...from washing the cars to mowing the lawn to blowing leaves and taking out the trash. Daddy is his hero and if he's doing it, Mac wants to do it too. 

Mim, on the other hand, likes straightening up. She loves putting away her toys, feeding the dog, washing the dishes, stacking books, putting away shoes, emptying the trash, putting clothes in the hamper, putting away laundry and bringing in the mail. She likes the Dust Buster, but she's not a big fan of the loud vacuum, the leaf blower or the lawn mower. Mimmy's on the young side to be doing chores and helping around the house, but she's much better at it than I ever thought to give her credit for. 

One of the best ways I've found to get the kids involved is to give them their very own cleaning products in a little cleaning caddy. We had a couple of sand pails in the basement that I grabbed one day and threw in a couple old dish rags, a lint roller, an old dish scrub brush and a squirt bottle filled with a kid-friendly cleaning solution that I made from water, lemon essential oil and vinegar. Other things you could include: baby wipes, duster, sponge, microfiber cloth, dust pan & hand sweeper. You can get as creative as you want with this and kids love it! 

Here's a list of the rest of the amazing bloggers involved in the Spring Cleaning & Organization Round-Up. Make sure to go check out their posts for additional inspiration, tips, tricks, advice and tutorials. And don't forget to enter below to win one of FOUR Mrs. Meyer's Variety Gift Buckets to help you with your spring cleaning! Best of luck to you! 

Sarah @ Seeing All Sides - Garage Organization

Meghan @ The Adventure Starts Here - Tips for Keeping an Organized and Semi-Clean House

Jess @ Scott Family of Maine - Spring Cleaning Printables

Liz @ Ellie &Addie - Spring Garden Prep

Chrissy @ Simple Joys – Diaper Changing & Dresser Organization

Leah @ Leah With Love – Spring Cleaning Schedule

Stephanie @ Wife Mommy Me – De-clutter Your Home Printable Checklist

Whitney @ Work It Mommy - Re-purposed Storage Solutions

Emily @ Dear Owen - Organizing Kids Closets

Jess @ Being Mrs.Beer - Essential Oils for Spring

Vanessa @ Sunflower State of Mind - Spring Cleaning Hacks

Laureen @ Chateau Deveau – Playroom & Toy Storage

Jessica @ Secrets of a Stay At Home Mom - Organizing a Kids Craft Area

Ashley @ Being Brickner - Cleaning Tips for Working Moms

Karli @ September Farm - Spring Cleaning Checklist Printable

Laura @ Happily Ever Parker - 20 Things to Purge

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Do you get your kids involved in cleaning?

What's their favorite chore?