Do You Ever Feel Like You ALWAYS Clean ?!

[dEHmom]

I get my kids to help me as much as I can.
They know that there is a better chance we can do something if they help me clean up any toys/clothes before supper is ready.

All my dcks clean up as well. They don't get every last thing, but they are good at cleaning and they make less mess because they know they have to clean (they are all under 3 except for my own kids).

Transitioning from one activity to another also helps eliminate a lot of mess. They stay in their highchairs until all the food is picked up off the floor, and it's swept, because otherwise they step in it, and track it through house.

[Cradle2crayons]

Yep, if it wasn't for my kids having helper jobs, I'd be over whelmed for sure. But it really does give them a sense of accomplishment to be assigned a job. It's so important to them and they take their jobs seriously. We clean up between all activities so there is never too much to do in just a few minutes. That's really the key. Once I get behind I just want to stand there and stare in wonder .

[HomeMADE]

I break down cleaning throughout the day also.

Morning - After breakfast/During I hand wash the dishes that are used dry and put away. I lay out the plates for lunch.

Mid morning - During free play or outside play I check the bathroom and use Clorox wipes to get anything icky cleaned up.

Lunch - After lunch hand wash dishes after kids eat. Toddlers are drinking their milk and the bigger kids get 30 min of educational tv while I tidy up the kitchen. Lay out afternoon snack.

Nap time - I sweep/mop start family dinner. I do laundry throughout the day and put it away since I have to do that upstairs while they are sleeping.

We all go outside together and I manage THEM putting everything away after playing. Matter of fact I have them pick up EVERYTHING before we change activities. Nothing is ever left out. This is ALWAYS.

So I am never putting away toys. Just sweeping, Mopping, and dishes. Oh and no one eats outside of the kitchen. And I have been known to go behind each one after they potty.

They key to my master plan is I clean up behind no one that can do it themselves. I also have them help the younger one's clean up their toys after play. It creates such a since of pride in them. We also always know where things are. I love to hear one of the DCK's say "if you don't put X back I won't know where it is when its my turn". Yes that has been said on more than one occasions.

I have 4 kids of my own on top of the DCK's so I know that it takes more than one person taking ownership to keep things just so. Shoot I didn't make the mess myself. And if someone anyone does not put something away, I make it disappear for a while. That changes everyone's attitude.

[dave4him]

The tiny army my wife created keeps following me around making messes after I clean!

[heyhun77]

Would you mind pming me some recipes????? happyfacelovethis

I don't have a lot of them typed but do keep most of them pinned on pintrest if you're on there. I have a board for each of the big cooks I've done.

Here's the link to my boards:

http://pinterest.com/chelle_r/boards/

[LK5kids]

I have offered child care .....

Directly in my home living space

Then added a separate and large child care addition

and now have returned to in home care and have bought a separate house just for child care.

When it was in the middle of my house, yes I always felt like I was cleaning but things were never clean.....and the clutter, ick

I was soooo happy when we added the addition. Things stayed organized and in some way seemed cleaner and easier to keep up on. I was able to just shut the door and leave child care behind. It was a total kid space. It was great, I guess because I wasn't blending family life and child care. My kids were school age by then

Now with a separate child care house I am cleaning two homes...NOT my favorite thing to do!

My favorite situation is the separated, dedicated space in my home.

[craftymissbeth]

The tiny army my wife created keeps following me around making messes after I clean!

::

[Brooksie]

I broke it down and do it in increments. During AM freeplay I sweep/mop the floors in the daycare room/kitchen/dining/hall. At nap I clean the bathroom, finish paperwork for the day, do any facebook updating and daycare bills/finance. I have everything pretty organized, and if I stay on top of it, I'm good.

I also have help. My dh does all, and I mean ALL the laundry (he even does throw blankets and all of our bedding once a week AND my daycare laundry) . He does dishes when he comes home for lunch.

I wish I had your system! and also your help! That's awesome.