Wondering How to Get Your Kids to Clean Their Rooms? This is the Way!

For all of us with kids, it’s always a struggle to teach him important things about life, teach them manners and make sure they grow up capable people. One of the struggles in their early years is definitely the one where we try to teach them to clean after themselves. And while everything starts with a gentle tone at first, after the hundredth time it all turns to yelling and semi-nervous break downs.

All parents feel the need to impose some kind of order, which is normal. But it seems that this struggle is a real marry go around and everything repeats day after day after day until someone goes totally crazy (the parent, of course).

You’ve probably felt like giving up a million times but then you remember – it’s your job to instill basis for your little ones, to teach them everything they need to know, at least at that age. Everything they learn from you now, all the structure they are given in their early years will be something to rely on in years to come.
Here are some tips that will help you manage your current situation, at least a little:

1. Nothing is as bad as it seems
Children don’t respond well to orders. If you raise your voice or express anger, your children will connected such a banal thing as cleaning their room as the most difficult chore in the world, resenting it every step of the way. Further, they will fear you and that’s not really the end result you are after.

For the first few times after you’ve told them to pick up the toys, do it with them, together. Play some music in the behind, something cheerful and light. You can all sing together and the kids will understand cleaning isn’t as terrifying as it appears to them. In time, explain it to them that you can’t assist them forever and tell them to treat cleaning of their space as yet another fun activity they do.

2. Set a good example
You know the saying “we are spitting images of our parents”? Well, it’s true. Maybe not always, but in majority of cases it’s painfully true. This is why you need to be clean yourself in order to have your child be clean and have a sense of duty about the space he uses. Also, let your child see that you have a positive attitude towards cleaning and never make a big deal out of it. The child will himself understand and even initiate cleaning as a part of their daily routine. For instance, when you have to clean, say things like “Ok, and now I’ll clean this mess, later I’ll do my workout and then we can watch a movie together!” As long as you work cleaning in a simple, everyday conversation as if it is just another thing to do, your kid will take it in the same way!

3. Let them be proud

Children love awards for their work, no matter what it is. If you make sure they feel you are satisfied with what they’ve done by, say, saying “This space looks amazing!”, “Look how clean you’ve made it!”, “Bravo, you’ve done some great job here!”, etc. your child will be motivated to do it again and again and again.

4. Give your children clear instructions
Unlike adults, kids are way more thorough and serious about what they do. Yes, it does sound weird but it’s true. If you want your children’s room to be clean then be clear about what that really means. Make a check list that means ä clean room”. That way your kids will have a point of reference now and for the future.
A clean room usually means:
1. A made bed
2. Clean workspace
3. Toys in toybaskets
4. Laundry in hamper
5. Clothes hung up
6. The floors are vacuumed (for a bit older kids)

5. Be practical
Each of their things needs to have its place. Why wouldn’t these places be colorful bins and boxes that will further stimulate your kid and make the process more fun? Buy your kids some plastic crates so that they have where to place all their stuff. Also, be reasonable when it comes to your cleaning expectations. After all, they are just kids.

While teaching your children to make the bed or pick up the toys after themselves may appear as a trivial thing at first, it isn’t – it’s a base for everything that’s coming next in life. We hope our guide helped!

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Nesting: What to do before your baby arrives?

Being a first-time parent is not that simple at all. There are numerous things you need to plan and organize before your baby finally arrives. One of the most crucial responsibilities of every parent is organize their home in the best possible way in order to create the optimal conditions for their baby. Here are some basic tips on what to do in order to make your baby’s environment completely safe and healthy.

Baby-proof your home
Although it might seem too early to your now, you need to think about numerous things ahead of time. For example, when your baby starts crawling, it will get interested in everything around it and try to touch absolutely everything it sees. That’s exactly why you need to baby-proof your home properly. You need to pay special attention to stairways, electricity, bathroom and kitchen appliances.

Make room for all your baby stuff on time
When your baby arrives, you will be surprised how much stuff you will have to buy, from the diapers to various care products. Most importantly, all these things will take up a lot of your space. That’s why you need to make enough room for all your baby stuff on time. Maybe you should consider adapting your attic, basement or garage for such purposes, where all spare baby stuff will be stores. You should also declutter the rooms and try to make as much storage space as possible. For example, numerous shelves, baskets and totes will serve as an amazing storage solution for you.


Shop and stock
Face it, once your baby is born, you will be so tired and exhausted that you will never, ever have time for stress-free shopping. Maybe that’s why it is always better to do it before your baby is born. Therefore, what you should do is to purchase and stock your pantry, nursery, and cleaning essentials on time.

You need to pay special attention to your refrigerator. First, you need to make sure that it works properly. Second, you need to restock it, throwing away all off products and buying fresh and healthy ones.  Fill your fridge with dozens of baby foods and foods for breastfeeding, such as veggies, fruits, prewashed salads, filtered water and many more!

Deep cleaning
One of the most important steps you need to undertake before your baby arrives is deep house cleaning. What you should always keep in mind is that, no matter how it is clean, every house entails numerous places that are a perfect home to numerous parasites and germs.

The first thing you need to do is to vacuum and wipe your floors regularly. You should also know that some floor materials, such as carpeting, easily attract dust mites that can cause various chronic diseases and allergies. If you are not sure that your vacuum cleaner is strong enough to deal with all these parasites, you could maybe consider purchasing or renting a stronger one, such as a steam or deep floor cleaner. Since it will make your home germ-free, you should consider it as an amazing long-run investment in the health of your entire family.


What you should never forget is that you are still pregnant, which is a huge responsibility. Therefore, you need to be sensible about this entire process of house cleaning. You should avoid harsh chemical substances that could damage health of both you and baby. Instead, try out organic, toxic-free cleaning remedies that are as good as any regular, chemical substance. If you feel that you are not able to do it all on your own, ask your friends for a favor and make house cleaning fun, or even contact professionals that would make your entire home sparkling clean in a couple of hours.

All in all, no matter how difficult this all seems to you right now, believe us, once you experience the wonder of being a parent, you will forget about all these problems. They will simply become a part of your everyday routine and you will and solve them with ease. What you should always keep in mind is that your baby’s safety and health are always your number one priority, no matter how much self-restraint it requires. Stick to these above mentioned tips and you will welcome your baby completely ready!

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Indications to Replace Your Outdoor Blinds

Outdoor blinds wear out over time. But, when do you think is the best time to have them replaced? Here are some indications you need to watch out for.

 

Indications to Replace Your Outdoor Blinds 

Alana Southwell is a DIY improvement enthusiast, who has lots of experience in minor renovations, as well as arts and crafts. She shares her knowledge by providing content for blogs like All Weather Blinds. In this article, she shares some signs and indications that your outdoor blinds need replacements.

Outdoor blinds can be wonderful additions to any home while also serving a basic purpose. They come in varying styles and materials and differ in price and quality. But, all of them are generally the same – they wear out over time. Some parts of a blind may break like the strings and the slat, while others won’t even tilt.

Depending on the issue, an outdoor blind can be spared. However, there are these rare instances when there is nothing you can do but to replace them. If you ever notice any of these signs, then you might probably need to replace your outdoor blinds.

 

Blinds Won’t Turn or Rotate

At times, the blinds don’t turn or rotate. When this happens, you must not panic. You have to inspect it first, whether there is anything preventing the blind from rotating. If everything seems normal, try using some lubricating spray and apply it in small amounts while turning. If this doesn’t work, this can be an indication that you probably need to replace your blinds.

 

Blind Vanes Become Broken On One End

Regardless if this is new or not, a blind vane is always susceptible to damage, just like any other parts of an outdoor blind. When this happens once, you can fix it easily as there are lots of available repair kits on the market today. But if this occurs every now and then, then you must be alarmed. This is a sign of a possible damage in the mechanism, which can also become a potential danger to children.

 

Blinds Won’t Open

Vertical vinyl blinds that won’t open can be an indication that something is wrong. While this can be fixed by changing the vinyl vanes or checking whether the vertical slats are properly installed and are in the right position, sometimes, the damages are more than that. When this happens, repair expenses can get really high that the best thing that you can only do is to buy a new one. 

The Blind Vanes are No Longer Aligned

For vertical blinds, improper alignment is a very common issue. If you don’t want this to happen, you must not force the shades to open. This will only destroy the vanes. The right way to open this is to simply twist the vanes so as to keep them aligned. When this gets broken, consider this a very costly repair and you don’t want to spend more for this over and over again. So, the only thing you can do is to replace the entire outdoor blinds.

 

Bent Window Blind Slats

Among the disadvantages of aluminum window blind is that its slats will easily bend. And if there are any kids or pets at home, this can pose a serious threat. Basically, aluminum has this characteristic of retaining its shape when bent, so it is impossible to restore it back to its original shape. This only means you need to have a replacement.

Regardless if your outdoor blind is made of aluminum, plastic, cloth, or vinyl, these signs should tell you when to fix or replace your outdoor blinds. Not only will these spare you from spending time, money, and effort for any unnecessary repairs, this will also help you maximize the purpose of your outdoor blinds.

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Author: Alana Southwell

Alana is a DIY enthusiast, and she has plenty of experience in arts, crafts, and minor renovations. She currently provides content for AllWeather Blinds. If you want to get updates, follow her on Twitter: @Alana_Southwell

 

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