Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Naturally It’s Clean products. I have received product and compensation for this post. However, all thoughts, opinions, and words are mine.

When you homeschool, it is up to you to teach everything to your kids, and sometimes it can seem so overwhelming to teach your child every single thing that they need to learn. In fact, I know that sometimes I look at “what your kids should know by age X” and think that my kids are behind. When it comes to teaching responsibilities such as chores around the home, skills like cleaning for kids are a must on this busy homeschool momma’s checklist.

How to Teach Cleaning Skills to Your Kids

First, don’t panic if all of your friends have their kids cleaning toilets and your child is “behind.” Start with this handy checklist of what types of chores your kids can be doing at certain ages. For my son Jack-Jack who is autistic, his skill level is far behind, but that doesn’t mean we don’t work on it. 

Second, start with something they like. When teaching your kids to be responsible humans, it is always easier to begin with activities they enjoy. For Jack-Jack, anything that involves spray bottles and/or water is mesmerizing to him.

Years ago, I used to fill a tiny spray bottle with water, and he would spray it on everything. The couch, the windows, the tables – everything. 

However, since I recently found Naturally It’s Clean products that are non-toxic and enzyme-based, I don’t mind giving him a bottle and showing him how to spray. So far we have cleaned the sink, windows, and mirrors with the stainless steel cleaner. 

BE VERY SPECIFIC WITH YOUR INSTRUCTIONS WHEN TEACHING CLEANING TO KIDS

Finally, give very specific instructions. Do not assume your child understands how to do a chore because they have seen you do it. 

TELL YOUR CHILD TO POINT THE NOZZLE AWAY FROM THEM – DO NOT POINT IT AT YOU!

Squirt once (or twice) depending on the surface.

Using a paper towel or cleaning rag, scrub/wipe the surface.

Clean a window or mirror from the top to the bottom.

Clean the sink from the outer edge to the inner bowl. 

Give your child an “old toothbrush” or a cleaning brush for tougher stains on sinks, floors, etc.

Offer plenty of praise for a job well done.

Teaching Responsibility to Kids with Autism – CHORES

Expect to work alongside your child for a lot longer than neurotypical kids. 

Many autistic children have an aversion to smells. Naturally It’s Clean has a low-pleasant odor.

Many children on the spectrum have trouble with gross and/or fine motor skills, so cleaning may be slow going, but it will definitely help develop skills. 

Remember, this is not a competition. You are ultimately helping your child reach their maximum potential and for some children that takes longer than for others. Be patient!

Check Out All the naturally it’s clean products:

Laundry Pretreat: I really thought my favorite shirt was going in the trash. It had been treated with my usual stain remover and the stain was still there. I pretreated it with naturally it’s clean stain remover and then washed. Hooray! I got to wear my favorite shirt again!

TRY ALL THE NATURALLY IT’S CLEAN PRODUCTS!

Make sure to check out all of Naturally It’s Clean products on AMAZON which include: Floor Cleaner Concentrate, Carpet Cleaner, Laundry Pre-Treat Spray, Mildew Stain Eraser, Multi-Surface Cleaner, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, and Stainless & Electronics Cleaner. Get 10% off at checkout by March 24th – use the Promo Code 10PattyM20

I have used all of the above products and can attest to the fact that they are all amazing products, are non-toxic, and with a pleasant smell, and teaching kids to do chores is so much easier when you are using safe quality products.

For a list of FREE Printable Chores by Age and free printable chore charts, Visit HERE!