Cleaning and tidying

Whether children are at home or in childcare, they see a lot of cleaning. Babies and toddlers may want to help adults clean or pretend to clean in dramatic play. Cleaning looks so much fun to a child! You can spray water, play with wet fabric, unravel rolls of paper, and swing long brooms around.

Children can learn responsibility for their belongings and environment, because tidying up after yourself is an important life skill. Older children may resist cleaning if they see it as a chore, but it can be a fun and social experience.

The benefits of cleaning and tidying

The benefits of cleaning and tidying include:

• health and wellbeing
• self-help skills.

UNCRC

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children have the right to a clean environment (article 24).