Girl having fun and washing dishes

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Make Cleaning Fun
Even if your kids are young, you can teach them how to pick up after themselves. All it takes is a little creativity.

Turn cleaning into a game. For example, give each child a certain type of thing—clothes, toys or books—to be responsible for. At the count of three, have them scramble to fill bins with their items. Whoever finishes first, wins!

To help them pick up their dirty clothes, turn it into a game of basketball. Have them "shoot hoops" into the hamper and keep score for every item that gets in on the first try.