Cleaning Scavenger Hunt: Making Cleaning Fun

Making house cleaning fun can get your children more interested in helping, even establishing a habit of cleaning. Games are a great way to get kids involved, and here’s how to plan a cleaning scavenger hunt to encourage your children to help out around the house—and maybe make cleaning more fun for you, too.

1. Decide on the type of scavenger hunt. Are you going to have you children find random items and then reward them at the end? Or would you rather hide prizes for them to find, with each discovery being a win? Knowing what you’re planning will help you set up the hunt.

2. Hide the items. Whichever style of scavenger hunt you decided upon, the next step is to hide the items. Hide them in places that need to be straightened, like a child’s bedroom or play room, and then explain that in order to get credit for the discovery, they have to clean to find it.

3. Play along and encourage your children. Get involved yourself, both to keep them going and because it’s fun! Play “hot and cold,” telling your kids when they’re close to the item or far away. Give them clues or just cheer them on. They will enjoy you participating and will likely do much better cleaning, too.

4. Praise them for a job well done. When they finish the scavenger hunt, praise your children both for their discoveries and for the work they did cleaning the house. Point out how much nicer the rooms look, and mention how much you appreciate their help. They will be much more likely to help out in the future if they get assurance from you.

Housekeeping doesn’t have to be boring. If scavenger hunts aren’t your style, try a race against the clock or draw random chores from a hat. Get creative, and you and your children will both enjoy cleaning a lot more.