I have heard that cleanliness is next to godliness? I certainly hope not? I subscribe to the concept that a few germs build up a child's immune system.
I admit it. I am pretty "laid back" when it comes to a clean house, but I reach our limit and have to break down and clean. I know if cleaning is a hard discipline for me, it is about a hundred times harder for my child that has a disability.
1. He rarely notices if there is a mess, dust or that there are crumbs all over the couch. He is very comfortable with how things look. Besides, it saves a lot of work if he is comfortable with it.
2. He doesn't do a good job cleaning up. One reason for this is that he doesn't know how to clean up. He has poor motor skills which affect the quality of his work. He needs to know exactly what I want done, how to do it and the quality I want.
Here are a few ideas.
1. Make a task list for general cleaning projects. Here are some samples I found at http://www.tipsfromatypicalmomblog.com
The above list may be all you need. Some children will need individual task lists for each item. An example of this would be:
Pick up all clothes on the floor and put in the laundry basket. Pick up all toys and put where they belong. Pick up any trash and put in the garbage. Anything else found that is not in it's proper place should be put away.
Any items you are not sure what to do with should be put in the "ask mom" bin.
Take the bin to mom and she will tell you where the remaining items go.
Put the items where mom instructed you.
Tell mom when you have completed all items on the task list.
Recognize that it will take a long time to teach cleaning tasks to your child with disabilities. It seems overwhelming at times. Stay at it as this is important if he is going to develop responsibility and be independent at your home or living on his own someday.
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