How to get kids to clean up, store away their toys — and tasty treats to reward your little helpers
Get kids organising clothes and toys, and pitching in with simple cleaning tasks — and out of your hair
KIDS getting under your feet during the holidays?
Don’t worry, it’s back to school soon. But in the meantime, get them to help you sort out the home to make it work better for everyone – organising clothes and toys, and pitching in with simple cleaning tasks.
Here we have tips for how to go about it, storage ideas – and tasty snacks and meals to reward your little helpers.
Get kids to clean up
PLAY upbeat music to keep spirits high. Have a dance break when everyone’s done some good dusting or sorting.
Kids shouldn’t be given chemical cleaners but you can trust them with dusting, sweeping and vacuum-cleaning.
If the weather’s good, send them outside to clean the car or sweep the path. Don’t forget to include outdoor toys in the clearout as well.
Introduce kids to natural, non-chemical ways of cleaning – vinegar boiled up in a kettle to rid it of limescale, lemon juice added to water in a spray bottle to clean mirrors and windows, half a lemon rubbed around taps and plugholes then rinsed with water.
Use this as a time to teach kids life skills. Get them to help change a bed or fold and put away washing.
Treats
NEED a little motivation to keep little hands busy? Plan a reward – and what better than a few tasty treats.
- Got a film lined up? Sort out the snacks with 50p off Maltesers and Galaxy Minstrels pouches, and Snickers bites at Waitrose, now £1.
- Get two for £3 on selected Chicago Town pizzas, £2 each, at Waitrose, including Ham & Pineapple and Four Cheese.
- Save a third on Propercorn popcorn, down from £1.59 to £1.06 at Waitrose.
- Save 50p on Sainsbury’s Stonebaked Chicken & Pesto 10in pizza, down from £2.75 to £2.25.
- Get two Morrisons Thin & Crispy Cheese Feast or Thin & Crispy Pepperoni pizzas for £3, or £2 each.
- Save 60p on Sainsbury’s Dough Balls & Dip x16, down from £2.10 to £1.50.
- Get two Morrisons ice-cream tubs for £3, or £2 each including Morrisons Sweetshop Ice Cream and Morrisons Double Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae, 900ml each.
- At Tesco, treat them to Cadbury Dairy Milk Bubbles of Joy Chocolate Mousse (4x45g), £1.50 or two for £2.
Honey pop
Serves four
IF you like your popcorn sweet, this is for you. Honey, cinnamon and almonds make it perfect for movie night.
YOU NEED:
- 1 cup popcorn kernels
- 1½ tbsp honey
- 1 sprinkle cinnamon
- 1 handful flaked almonds
- 75ml vegetable oil
METHOD: Add the vegetable oil to a large pot. Cover and put on a medium-high heat for two minutes until the oil is at cooking/popping temperature.
Add the popcorn kernels. Cover and cook the popcorn – you will hear the kernels popping (DO NOT remove lid at this point).
Shake the pot occasionally and after about two minutes – once the popping has slowed down – take off the heat and take the lid off the pot. This lets the steam out and keeps the popcorn crisp.
Add the almonds, sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle honey over the top. Toss until coated.
Biscuity lollies
Makes 16
YOU NEED:
- 175g self-raising flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 80g porridge oats
- 1 pinch cinnamon
- 175g butter
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 50g dried apple, finely chopped
- 20g chocolate dots
METHOD: Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line two baking sheets with non-stick parchment. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl then stir in the oats and cinnamon.
Melt together the butter and syrup, pour over the dry ingredients, add the apple and mix well to form a soft dough. Divide into 16 balls, push a lolly stick into each, cover the stick with foil to prevent it browning and place well apart on the baking trays.
Flatten each slightly and scatter with chocolate dots. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden. Let them cool for ten minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool fully.