Imaginary Play: Housekeeping Station

Imaginary Play: Play Cleaning Set

How many times have you been trying to get your house clean and your young child keeps asking how he/she can help? Then you try to encourage that desire and give them something to do and find that it only makes you have to do their "job" over again.

An imaginary

play cleaning set

is a great solution to this problem. As you are moping or sweeping, your child joins you and you both sweep the dirt into different places at least making it look like you have cleaned. :) Lets face it, young children are not the greatest deep cleaners but it is good to encourage your child's desire to clean and help. Our temptation is to say "no" and get it done faster, but trying to include them is a good idea.

You can even take this

play cleaning set

, which is sized for your little one, outside. You can have them sweep the porch. You can even make it a fun summer or nice day toy by getting a bucket of soap and water and let them mop the driveway or the garage. When they are moping have them mop some shapes.

It is also really hard to learn how to sweep in to a dust pan. You can take the dust pan from the

play cleaning set

or a coffee can and lay it on the floor. Have your child sweep a play ball or some plastic food, or even a pretend bug in to the can or dustpan. What great clean fun!

One of my preschool students' favorite things to do when cleaning up the classroom is to sweep. Unfortunately, it will not take very long for the desire to clean in your child to disappear, so try and make it fun and take advantage of it. With a

play cleaning set

and a little bit of luck, your child will learn some fine motor skills, some cleaning tips and will desire to do it for a bit longer.