Parenting Perspective 

From Frustration to Formation 

Seeing toothpaste splatters, damp towels, and puddles can be an infuriating parenting moment. However, what seems like carelessness is usually a child’s lack of awareness, not defiance. Children do not automatically connect cause and consequence; they simply finish their task and move on. Your goal is not to clean up after them endlessly, but to train their awareness through calm repetition, modelling, and consistency. Begin by showing them, not just telling them, how to clean up properly. Brush your teeth together once, pointing out each step: ‘When we finish, we rinse the sink, wipe the counter, and hang the towel properly’. You can then make this a visible checklist near the sink until it becomes routine. 

Instead of scolding after a mess is made, involve them in fixing it: ‘Let us dry this together so it looks nice again’. This teaches accountability without shame. Over time, children begin to see the bathroom as a shared space, not a personal one. Reinforce small successes with comments like, ‘You remembered to hang your towel, that was very considerate’. Positive reinforcement shapes habits faster than frustration. 

Teaching Ownership, Not Obedience 

There is a key difference between obedience and ownership. A child who is merely obedient cleans only when told; a child who feels ownership tidies naturally. To foster this, give them responsibility for their own items, such as their towel, toothbrush cup, and a section of the counter. You can colour-code items or assign hooks labelled with their name to create clear visual cues. When accidents happen, let them experience the process of correction. For example, if they leave puddles, hand them a cloth and gently say, ‘Let us fix it together, but next time, remember to squeeze out the towel’. This reinforces responsibility through participation and encourages shared respect for common areas. 

Connecting Cleanliness with Character 

Cleanliness in Islam is not only about hygiene; it reflects discipline, empathy, and spiritual mindfulness. When a child learns to leave the bathroom clean, they are practising the inner awareness that their actions affect others. Explain that just as we would not leave a masjid untidy, we should not leave our own spaces messy. Cleanliness becomes a way of living consciously, of showing gratitude for what we have and respect for the people who share it with us. 

Spiritual Insight 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Shams (91), Verses 9–10: 

‘Without any doubt success is for the one who developed purity (of the self), and indeed, failure is for the one who embraces (the darkness of ignorance and immorality).’ 

This verse speaks to the connection between outer cleanliness and inner purification. A tidy space can mirror a disciplined mind. When parents teach their children to clean up toothpaste, hang towels neatly, and dry puddles, they are guiding them not only towards hygiene but towards self-control and self-respect. Such mindful acts become small, daily reflections of tazkiyah, the purification of the self that Allah Almighty praises. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 223, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Cleanliness is half of faith.’ 

This Hadith reminds us that cleanliness holds deep spiritual significance. It is not about perfection, but about intention. When a child learns to clean up after themselves, they are practising a core element of faith: respect for creation and gratitude to the Creator. Encourage your child to view each tidy-up not as a chore, but as an act of love for their home and an expression of thankfulness for Allah Almighty’s blessings. 

By linking cleanliness to dignity and faith, you transform bathroom messes into moral lessons. Your child learns that leaving a space pure for others is part of ihsan, which is doing everything beautifully, inside and out.