How To Enlist Your Child To Help In Flood Cleanup

By Author: Leo Nov
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Flood cleanup is such a mean and risky activity that it is often left to the adult members of the household. Some would even prefer having it managed by fully licensed and duly certified flood experts.
However, some families have begun enlisting their children to help in the flood cleanup chores. Children helping with activities around the home can help build their sense of belongingness as well as the development of a sense of responsibility.
There are quite a few ways on how to make sure your kids will be able to learn and, at the same time, enjoy his or her flood cleanup activity.
Safety. Always consider the safety of your child when helping you with removing water from a flooded area of the house. For starters, do not allow your child who is younger than three years old or who is shorter than three feet.

Consider the height of your child and the depth of the flood water. As a rule, the depth of the water should not be higher than the child's knees. You have to remember that children may not have a fair sense of balance yet such that the pressure of the flood water may be too great for them to ...
... move around. Have your kids wear protective gear such as knee high boots, rubberized gloves and goggles.
Do not forget to turn off the main power switch of the house and to make sure that no sharp and pointed objects are in the flooded floor.

Buddy System. If you have more than one child, especially if they are already in their preschool age, it will be best if you had them on a buddy system. The older sibling will be given the responsibility to oversee the efforts of each other. This fosters trust and helps develop a sense of responsibility among your children.

Play. Consider planning fun activities while attempting to remove the flood water and emptying them outside the home. You can play pretend with your children and pretend that you are saving your little child's precious teddy bear by removing water from the flooded area.

Your creativity and imagination at developing meaningful yet fun activities for your children will be a must in this case. However, do not expect to play around if you have a much older kid with you. If this is the case, then an outright, clear, and direct explanation of what you need to do is enough.
Reward. Never ever forget giving your children a treat of some kind after the flood cleanup activity. This is meant to inspire them and appreciate the value of helping and cooperating with others to make a job done.

Take them out for an ice cream or perhaps a stroll down their favorite park. Maybe this is the perfect time for you to buy him or her his or her favorite toy, stationery, or even a school item. Do not give cash because this will give the impression that he or she is being 'paid' for the flood cleanup activity.
There are essentially a lot of ways how you can motivate your children to help you in the flood cleanup. This way, you will also learn a lot more about your kids aside from getting the much-needed help you desire.

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Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for water damage restoration. To learn more about Flood Cleanup and Flood Damage, visit RestorationSOS.com.