School is a place to learn, create, and explore – all of which can get messy! After a busy school day, you will find books, stationery, and papers scattered about the classroom.
Teachers can have a difficult time cleaning up the mess at the end of each day, but children can also play an important role in keeping the area they are responsible for tidy.
When should children begin to be responsible for cleaning up after themselves?
Very young! Most children can understand how to tidy and put away toys when they are not in use by the time they reach the age of 3. By the time your child is in school, they will be able to do it.
Some children enjoy helping out at home or in the classroom. If you frame it as something they can be thanked for or rewarded rather than a punishment or chore, children are more likely to volunteer to help.
Benefits of Starting Children Young
There are many advantages to having children clean their desks and other areas in the immediate vicinity.
Pride. A clean and tidy environment makes children proud of their surroundings and the effort they have put into maintaining them.
Organizational Skills. Children’s basic organization skills are further developed by learning how to put things away and practice.
Self-awareness. Children learn more about themselves when they are responsible for cleaning up their mess. They learn to recognize and fix the clutter they have created rather than leaving it to someone else.
Autonomy. As they grow older, children become more independent. They also enjoy taking on more responsibility for themselves. It is easy for children to learn how to take responsibility by tidying up their toys and books.
Problem-solving skills. Organizing and tidying up your space means figuring out how to fit different items into different places. It is a great way to teach children how to solve problems.
Teach children important techniques for teaching them about cleanliness
It can be a real challenge to get your students to clean their desks and help you tidy up. If children are not expected to tidy up at home, they may be reluctant to do the same in school.
These tips will help children take on the responsibility of keeping their school desks clean.
Establish a routine. Giving children a daily chore at the end of the school day will help them get used to cleaning their area. It won’t seem so daunting if every child spends five minutes each day putting their stuff away and cleaning their desks. It’s not a long time, but they are doing it all together.
Clean desk diagram. Angela Watson, an American instructional coach and teacher, developed the clean desk diagram. Angela Watson created this diagram when she realized that her idea of a neat desk was different from what her students thought of as ‘tidy.’ To get everyone on board, Angela created a diagram with notes explaining what she wanted the desks to be like. It is easier for children to understand if they can see the example.
Clean desk visitors. Teachers often use desk visitors or desk fairies to encourage students to keep their desks clean. Children who keep their desks clean are rewarded with a fun soft toy. The soft toy will be placed on or on a desk every day that is kept neat. That child can keep the toy on their desk for the rest of the day. The kids love it because they get to choose the toy every day. It also motivates them to keep the area tidy in order to win it.
Group activities. Students will be more motivated to participate if they are working in a group. It’s also better if other students are doing the same activity so that they don’t think of cleaning as a chore or punishment.
Reduce the amount of paper. Paper can clutter up and cause a mess in the classroom. By embracing more digital methods of working and decreasing reliance on documents, you can minimize the clutter in classrooms.
Storage and designated areas are important. You can’t expect kids to put everything away neatly if there isn’t enough room in the classroom. They need desks that are large enough to accommodate all their essentials, as well as shelves or lockers for larger items. Book sleeves are also used in many classrooms. They hang from the back of each student’s seat. They can be used to store their workbooks and create more room on the desks.