I finally went through my “Parents” magazine for October and came across an interesting tid-bit about how tidy your house is. Apparently, how clean you keep your house will reflect on your kids in the future. Here’s the quote:
According to a research report in the “American Economic Review,” children who are raised in a neat, orderly home grow up to be more successful in their school and work lives than kids who live in a messy environment.”
Those are powerful words. I believe that homes that are clean and clutter-free offer better environments for the people who live in them so I guess I’m not surprised by this finding that it affects children too.
Cleanup routines improve a child’s ability to stick with a task and plan well later in life,” says Dr. Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, who led the review.”
So parents, let’s get out kids to help with all this clean up. Start with getting them to help make his/her bed in the morning, put the toys back at night, put his/her dishes in the sink after dinner. I think if we start when they are young it will make it easier for all of us in the end.
lou says
Yes! Finally vindication. Next time one of my many friends that do – is giving me crap for my house being so clean I am throwing this back at her. Seriously, I love it … my answer to all the wall art and magnets that say something silly about messy houses = happy moms/wives/kids/etc. 😉
Love your site, btw … my first time here.
Alicia at BalancingMotherhood.com says
Thanks for the comment lou!
Sarah says
I love clean houses but can’t keep mine that way. I’m a pack rat or just lazy. I’m trying though. Great article. Makes me want to try harder.