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Home
and Family
It's Clean Up Time!
by Dena Neuman
Most of us were trained as young children to know that one
fact of life is: Keep Clean. If we didn't want to cooperate
so much as we were growing up, we surely see the need as we
run our own homes. It's hard for a family to function when
there is garbage all over the house. And practically
speaking, it's dangerous — you can really trip on
banana peels, and even toys. And once in a while, you may
want to open up your front door — wide!
So we all agree, at least in theory, that getting garbage
into the garbage can as soon a possible is a fine idea. With
lots of kids in the house not accustomed to picking up after
themselves, how can we make it happen? It's possible, with
some planning, to get enough cooperation to effect a
difference.
Try to start by speaking to your children, individually or as
a group. Explain the problem (they may not realize there is
one) and make an assignment. I like to do this as a function
of their age. Try, "Before leaving for school (going to bed,
eating a snack, going out to play...) please pick up one (or
two or three) times your age." Be prepared with a treat,
especially as you begin, to pay those who perform. As they
get used to it, you should raise the performance level until
you reach some level of comfort for you all. Make sure to
describe what you see — 'Sara put four cups in the
trash!' 'Yossi found a tissue under the couch!' And try,
'Won't Tatty be so proud when he comes home!' And don't
forget to tell him!
While we have the energy flowing, let's look out our windows.
With lots of encouragement, kids can work on the beautiful
land of Eretz Yisroel, our home. We wouldn't want kids
throwing seed shells on our floors, nor empty cartons and
wrappers. If your family is already trained in this, great.
If they are learning, then as they get into the cleaning
habit, let's make an effort to keep our neighborhood clean,
as well. We can teach our children to throw any garbage into
a bin, or a bag (the bag that a snack came from will do just
fine) and then hold onto that bag until a receptacle is
spotted. Why should fine Yiddishe kinderlach sitting
in their school bus be seen throwing all their snack garbage
out onto our heilige streets? If we ask for the sale,
we can solve a big part of the problem.
Since not everyone will be successful, I fear, let's also
instruct our children to show hakaros hatov, and do a
chessed for the community they live in, by picking up
one, two, or three times their age whenever they go out, or
at least once a day. We can encourage a contest through our
schools, or among our apartment buildings. What a difference
it could make! What a Kiddush Hashem it would engender if
chareidi apartments were free of litter!
And what beautiful middos we will be instilling in our
children.
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