| If you have kids, especially young ones, you | | | | The other is that one could have a messier room |
| know that they can create a really big mess and | | | | than the other, making a timed competition unfair. |
| rarely help to clean it up. Some might say that | | | | If you have really young children with a lot of |
| such actions are just part of childhood. Really, | | | | toys you may have to help them clean, but you |
| though, there's no reason that kids, even young | | | | can get them in on the act, too. Just make a |
| ones, can't help to pick up their messes. You just | | | | game out of it. For instance, you could give them |
| have to appeal to their fun side. | | | | a scavenger hunt by showing them a bucket of |
| For example, let's say that you have a | | | | blocks and telling them to find all the blocks. You |
| seven-year-old and a six-year-old that are | | | | could even give them prizes, like stickers. |
| constantly competing for your attention. Well, give | | | | Doing such an activity will allow you to bond with |
| them a fun way to compete against each other. | | | | your kids and, of course, get the room picked up. |
| Ask them each to pick up their rooms and tell | | | | Beyond that, though, it will teach young kids |
| them that the one who does the best job will get | | | | words, colors, shapes and more. It will also teach |
| a special prize that you determine, such as an ice | | | | them to feel good about themselves for |
| cream sundae or an extra hour of TV time. | | | | accomplishing something. The best part is, since |
| Don't tell them that the first person done will get | | | | it's a game, they won't even realize that they're |
| a prize, though. There are two problems with that. | | | | cleaning. |
| One is that they'll rush and not do a thorough job. | | | | |