Foreword

Many mothers, in their interactions with their children, often feel that their children are disobedient. Children frequently find themselves in a state where they ignore the advice and requests given by their parents.

To address this issue, let us first consider the fundamental reasons why children might be disobedient.

There could be two possible reasons. One is that you have not effectively established a good image in your child's eyes. The other is that the child does not understand your instructions – they are simply at a loss as to what you mean. For instance, some mothers might tell their children, Go and do something quietly by yourself, but find that the child is still wandering around them, fiddling with this and that.

For situations like these, there is a simple tactic that, with persistence, can resolve both aspects of the problem: sweeping the floor.

Practice: My Experiences in Education

Story 1

If you can teach a child to sweep the floor, and they understand how to sweep and enjoy their labour, it is a win-win situation for both the child and the adult.

Sweeping the floor may sound simple, but doing it well requires practice. Let me share a real-life case. Some children do not do chores at home and only participate in collective cleaning activities at school. This is where you see the differences in how children approach tasks.

Some children sweep quickly and efficiently, with smooth and natural movements. Others appear slow and listless, moving little by little, and even after they finish, some areas remain unswept.

The most important lesson for the students under my care is how to do things. Whether they are two years old or teenagers, sweeping the floor is a mandatory task.

FF, a teenager, was raised by his grandparents, who doted on him. They were reluctant to let him do anything, stopping him no matter what he tried. As a result, he never believed he could accomplish anything, and he still could not sweep the floor when he grew older.

When I started training him, I began with sweeping. As he swept, I observed him. He did not hold the broom steadily and only swept one section at a time, with little awareness of the areas to his left or right. He had the posture, but his movements were small and incremental. The action of sweeping into the dustpan required many repetitions.

Initially, I guided him on where to look and where to start, pointing out the missed spots and explaining what to do. Then, I let him think for himself. When giving instructions, I tried to be clear and specific to cultivate this habit. I made him do the task every day and praised and encouraged him when he did well, expressing my appreciation.

Now, this child has made significant progress and is much more efficient. We train him not only in household chores but also in other projects, such as design, renovation, and teaching, involving him in tasks big and small. Now, he is very enthusiastic about doing things because he can do them well, and he has a strong sense of accomplishment – confidence!

This reflects the training children receive at home. Do not think of sweeping as a trivial matter, something optional or unimportant. A child need only study hard, get into a good university, find a good job, and earn a lot of money so they can hire a maid to sweep. Why sweep personally?

We must not oversimplify things but see the essence of the matter. What is the essence? It is to shape a child's strong character, train their problem-solving skills, and make them smarter and more capable.

Even if someone is very talented, without a strong character and the ability to do things, they will face many physical and mental challenges in the future. But if you want your child to be exceptional, start cultivating them from small things. How can one sweep the world if one cannot sweep a room? Your child may not do sweeping as a job in the future, but they will certainly be someone who can sweep and get things done.

Story 2

There was also a very young child. To train her hand-eye coordination, we bought her a small broom suitable for her height when she was two years old. Her strength was just enough to hold it. I would deliberately put a piece of orange peel or a small scrap of paper on the floor and point it out to her.

At first, she did not understand the concept of placing the dustpan on the ground and would always lift it up, so she could not sweep things into it. After more than a month of practice, she became much more skilled!

Now, she not only knows that things should not be thrown around but should be put in the trash can, and she also knows that tools should be returned to their original place after use!

How to Teach a Child to Sweep the Floor

Step 1: Tell the Child Why We Sweep the Floor

The purpose of sweeping is to maintain a clean and tidy environment! Living in such an orderly and clean environment is comfortable for everyone, and it is a good habit!

Step 2: Teach the Child to Observe and Overcome Difficulties

Sweeping involves cleaning up the garbage and dust on the floor, not aimlessly swiping.

Of course, if your child is only one or two years old, you will indeed need to train them to swipe the floor with a broom. However, if your child is six or seven years old and still cannot see, that is a problem.

Let the child see where the dirt is. Some things may be difficult to sweep out due to obstacles. You need to guide them on how to overcome these difficulties and find ways to sweep the dirt out instead of ignoring it.

Step 3: Have a Plan and a Sequence

When sweeping, where do you start? Do you just start anywhere? Of course not! Teach the child to follow an order from the inside out and from back to front to avoid missing any corners!

Assigning Sweeping Tasks to the Child

When assigning tasks, do not be vague but be clear and specific!

For example:

• Sweep clean under the dining table!
• Sweep up the fallen vegetable leaves on the kitchen floor!
• Sweep up the eraser shavings on the floor of your own room!

Instead of vaguely saying, Go sweep the floor or Can't you do something yourself?

You can create a sweeping checklist for your child and put a checkmark each day an item is completed! Praise and encourage the child!

I encourage everyone to take this small matter seriously. Not only will the children become smarter, but they will also be more willing to listen to you proactively!