Getting your child to do their chores is no small feat, especially when it comes to cleaning their room. How do you keep it clean? And more important, how do you get your child to clean it without a screaming fit?

One of the problems children face in cleaning their room is the magnitude of the mess. They just can’t see past the mountain of laundry and the scattered toys. The task seems overwhelming. Make the job easier for them by not allowing the mess to accumulate. If they clean their room once a day—at night before they go to sleep—the new day will dawn with a cleaner room and a happier mom.

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Teach your child the ropes of cleaning a room. Go through the steps to a clean room such as: 1. Make your bed. 2. Pick up your toys. 3. Clean up your books, etc. Show your child how to make their bed, how to pick up their toys, how to clean up their books. Make a chart that can be hung on the wall for reference. Parentsresource.org can help you.

Reward positive behavior with things other than money. A trip to the library or park will usually do the trick.

Play music while your child cleans. Make sure the music is upbeat and fun.

Making the experience of cleaning more enjoyable and less like work, will usually appease your child’s desire not to lift a finger, but if cleaning for your child is still an issue, try rotating the ideas mentioned above until you find one that works for both of you.