5 Fun Ways to Declutter and Clean With the Kids
School holidays are a wonderful time for memory-making, sleeping in, and trying to manage little ones who want to be constantly busy.
If the holiday chaos is creeping up on you, we have some good news: you don’t have to tackle the mess alone. With a little bit of creativity, you can turn decluttering and organising into a fun family activity.
Here are 5 brilliant ways to get the kids involved in cleaning this school holiday, and actually have fun doing it!
1. The Toy Review
Instead of framing organising as a chore, frame it as an act of kindness. Sit down with your kids and go through their toy cupboards together.
The Strategy: Set up three zones: Keep, Fix/Clean, and Donate.
The Pitch: Explain to your children that by letting go of toys they’ve outgrown, they are making space for new adventures and passing joy along to another child who will love them just as much.
It’s a beautiful way to teach empathy while reclaiming your play room floor.
2. The "Dirtiest Towel" Challenge
Kids are naturally competitive, so why not use that to your advantage? Grab a pack of microfiber cloths or old rags, lightly dampen them with a kid-safe cleaner (or just water), and announce the Dirtiest Towel Challenge.
The Mission: Give them 10 minutes to wipe down high-traffic areas—skirting boards, door handles, light switches, and the legs of chairs.
The Reward: The child who reveals the absolute grimiest, dirtiest cloth at the end wins. You’ll be amazed at how hard they’ll scrub to win!
3. The Wardrobe Audit
Before the back-to-school rush hits, use the holidays to sort through clothes, underwear, and accessories. Turn it into a fashion show where the kids try on clothes that might be getting a bit snug.
The Rule of Thumb:
Keep: Fits well and gets worn.
Donate: In great condition, but outgrown.
Toss/Recycle: Stained, torn, or worn out.
This saves you heaps of time when shopping for the next school term, as you’ll know exactly what fits and what needs replacing.
4. Stationery Sorting & School Prep
If your kids love arts and crafts, chances are their texta and pencil situation is a bit out of hand. Gather all the stationery into one big pile on the table.
Test the textas (toss the dried-out ones), sharpen the coloured pencils, and organise everything into jars or caddies. This is the perfect time to audit what they actually need for the upcoming school term. Can they make do with last term's pencil case, or is it time for a Smiggle trip?
5. Level Up with Age-Appropriate Routines
Holidays are the perfect testing ground for new, permanent habits. Use this free time to establish simple, daily routines that can carry into the school term, keeping track with a fun family chore chart.
To keep motivation high, tailor the tasks and rewards to their age:
For Toddlers & Preschoolers: Focus on simple wins, like putting their toys into a dedicated "daily bucket" before bed or helping to smooth out their blankets. Reward them with extra storytime or a favorite healthy snack.
For Primary Schoolers: They can handle making their bed properly every morning and wiping down the dinner table. Keep them driven with rewards like bonus screen time or getting to choose what's for Friday night dinner.
For Tweens & Teens: Have them take out the bins, load the dishwasher, or vacuum their own rooms. Choose a suitable reward like getting to choose the next family day out or having friends over!
Need a Total Reset? We've Got You Covered.
Teaching kids to clean is a great long-term strategy, but if your home needs a deep, professional reset after a busy school term, you don't have to do it all yourself.
Whether you need a thorough bond clean, a deep carpet refresh, or just a regular helping hand to keep the chaos at bay, our team is here to help. Contact us today and spend your holidays relaxing instead of scrubbing!