Why keep the house clean and orderly

CEBU, Philippines - It’s almost always a battle that ensues once Mom or Dad declares a house-cleaning day and the kids are to help actively. Often, the kids are made to clean their own rooms. But even such chores – which don’t even need an order from Mom and Dad for kids to do – are frequently met with resistance.

Perhaps the kids don’t quite understand the importance of why the house – the kids’ rooms included – need to be clean and in good order always. Without such understanding the kids whine, dawdle, get distracted, or outright refuse to cooperate. And the parents get mad and begin to give stern orders.

It’s funny how kids want their rooms to be their own messy castles. And their parents scold them a lot for that. Sometimes the kids comply a little, if only to get their parents off their backs, to avoid harsh consequences or just so that they could already get on with things that are more fun t do.

Why bother to keep the house clean? Because it’s important to have clean, orderly surroundings. And so cleaning up is an important skill to learn. And establishing regular routines provides some predictability and stability in the growing kids’ life. More so, knowing how to go through the motions and create a place that is peaceful are important skills for getting through hard times.

Insisting on putting things in order also teaches kids to be responsible for their personal belongings. When kids know to keep their things safe, when they how to mend and repair things that are in disrepair, when they take the time to organize what they value, the kids develop a sense of “responsibility”.

Children can learn a lot by just observing their parents go about the house chores. Better yet, they should volunteer to help. They should learn to take pleasure in taking care of things, to care about keeping the house clean and in good order.

A clean home would have much less places for germs and bacteria to thrive. That means there’s less chance for family members – especially little kids – to get sick from environmental pollutants inside the house. It also means lesser times being restrained to the bed because of an illness, or the kids being absent from school and having fun with their classmates.

The good habit can start with the kids making their own beds, or putting the laundry in the hamper, or hanging up their clothes, or putting their toys away after using them, or sweeping the floor or washing the dishes. Taking care of such little tasks will grow into a bigger sense of responsibility.

A place for everything and everything in its place. That’s what a house should be. And kids can very well help keep it that way.  (FREEMAN)