When kids think of activity time, they think of bike riding through the park or a game of catch with the neighbors, but a clever mom can finesse the notion that tidying up the house is a good time–instead of a chore. Here’s how.

• Banish the word chore. Even if you are one of those rare mothers who consider cleanup time therapeutic, for your kids, it’s like torture. So when it’s time for clean up, boast “Let’s play Sparkle House,” “It’s time for Goodbye Grub,” or “Let’s enter the Decontamination Zone”! Make it feel more like a game than a burden. Have your child create a name for his/her player in this game. Let them get creative with names like “Dirt Devil,” “Sparkle Fairy,” or “Dust Buster.”

• When assigned an activity, give that a clever name too. Assign your “Sparkle Fairy” the “Porcelain Throne.” Cleaning the toilet just became fun! You can also attach a story to it like: Once upon a time, the porcelain throne was ruled by an evil Queen. To save the kingdom, the throne must be polished clean.

• You can also set a lighthearted tone, but turning up some upbeat music and dancing around while getting the house in order. Recycle old (clean) socks and make sock puppet rags. Create competitions to see who can achieve the dirtiest puppet.

• Even if your little ones are too little to actually clean, get them in on the act by getting them a toy vacuum or their own feather duster. They can mimic your actions as you clean—makes it more fun for you, too.

Tools For The Tidy Now that the kids are eager to clean, you can’t just hand them toxic cleaners and put them to work. Baking soda makes a great scouring powder. Art Home, Ecover, and GreenWorks all supply cleaners that are earth- and kid-friendly.