This week I have dedicated my blog to cleaning. This is not my favorite part of being an adult, so I am eagerly trying to make improvements in this area. The web can be an excellent resource of fun for the normal parent of today. Seeing that holding my kids accountable to chores seems to be a downfall for me. I have accumulated some of my ideas and web suggestions for parents like you and I. Hopefully, this will make cleaning a little less of a chore for you, while introducing and encouraging chores in a fun and effective format. PLEASE share your fun suggestions to make this a great resource for parents (like myself) struggling in this area.

9 Tips to Get Your Child To Help You Clean (make cleaning fun):

1. Make a game out of matching socks. Play the memory game with your children (with socks instead of cards) or have them (if age appropriate) match into dark/light socks, alike/different socks, his/her socks, my socks, brother's socks, father's socks etc.

2. Play cleaning Hide and Seek. Hide five spoons in various spots (under cushions, on windowsills, under pillows) and see if your child can find all of them by the time he/she is finished cleaning.

3. Puppet dustin' is fun. Make sock puppets for dusting and start a contest to see whose puppet gets the dirtiest.

4. You can look in the mirror and copy what he/she does. You and your child each wear a sock on their hand to clean the patio door window. You're on the outside and he/she's on the inside. Spray a child safe, "Eco-Green" glass cleaner on the glass door. Make it a game to follow one another's hand movements as you clean the window or door. You can mimic each other and have fun.

5. "Get your head in the game" or turn it into a competition. Who can find the most green toys? Try having the kids shoot dirty laundry into the hampers as if they were shooting baskets in basketball. Listen to "Get your Head in the Game" (from High School Musical) as you clean.

6. Play a cleaning game with your little friends! Tell your child to close his/her eyes, tidy an object up, and have them guess what is missing. Take turns and let them play detective. Don't forget your magnifying glass.

7. Hard work deserves a reward, so offer a prize. Whether it’s a sticker, a treat, or a cheer, offer praise for a job well done and help provide your child with a sense of accomplishment. I even know of a mom that offers her child the comment "you should be proud of yourself, instead of I am proud of you" to induce self pride in a job well done!

8. Many kids are attracted to "squirting". If you need your mirrors or windows cleaned or freshened up, hand a kid a squirt bottle and some paper towels and they're in heaven. Let them go to town! It'll look so good you won't mind the few signature fingerprints left behind.

9. A wonderful friend of mine always hands her child a rag when it is floor cleaning time. She insists that habit forming is key to help later on in their later years. Be like this mommy while they are young and keep it going.