Do your kids clean up their toys?

Jayce - posted on 02/12/2012

I made clean-up part of our bedtime routine. We sit and read astory on the couch and then clean up toys and he gets another story when he's in bed. I don't expect it to be neat just in the toybox, off the floor.

Stifler's - posted on 02/11/2012

I just have a toybox too I don't expect things packed neatly on shelves or sorted out.

Stifler's - posted on 02/11/2012

@Julianne I think Gab is just advanced! Logan just doesn't get those things yet at all

Kelly - posted on 02/11/2012

Yes, J has always cleaned up after himself. When he was little, I helped, then when he was about 3, I would tell him to do it before it became overwhelming, but now he is 7 and I expect him to handle his own messes.



Did you buy them new toys after trashing the ones they left on the floor? That can kill that method. When I did that method with J, he got down to having almost no toys left before he got the point.



One thing that helped with J was making it less overwhelming. We had 3 baskets in the living room. 1 was always empty and to clean up, all he had to do was pick up the toys and put them in the basket. When the basket started to get full, he & I would take it to his room and I would help him put the toys away by telling him where they go.

It is really easy to just toss stuff in a basket, but when confronted by a big mess and a wall of shelves, kids don't know where to start or where to put stuff.

Jenni - posted on 02/11/2012

I do the "you're not allowed to play in another room until you tidy up this one". If it's a HUGE mess I do help as long as they're pitching in.



I also usually have them do a quick sweep of the house before lunch. I'll say "Ok. I'm making lunch now. It's time to tidy up before lunch."



I try to keep my expectations age-appropriate. They're 4.5, 3.5 and 22 months. If they clean up 70-80%, I'm happy.



I tend to do a quick sweep at bedtime. The kids are usually less cooperative at that time (getting cranky and tired) so meh, I do it myself then.

Julianne - posted on 02/11/2012

Gabby is a neat freak. I think she may have OCD. She keeps all her things organized, she color codes her toys, she gets all in a tiff if things are out of place. She takes one thing out and puts it back after shes done before she takes out something else. I'm a little worried it might become a problem for her.

Katherine - posted on 02/11/2012

I wonder the same thing Emma.

Stifler's - posted on 02/11/2012

I try to get my 2 year old to pick up his things. It barely ever happens and I end up doing it while he watches pretending to be dumbfounded. Sometimes i swear tehre is soemthing wrong with that kid.

Bonnie - posted on 02/08/2012

My boys are 3 and 5 and a lot of the time it is difficult to get them to clean up. They have a habit of bringing things down to the livingroom from their room or from the rec room to the livingroom. It doesn't always work, but I tell them, "If you don't do this, then you won't be able to do that or play with that." Usually when their daddy is around, it is easier. Something about men...kids know they mean business (even though I do too).

Corinne - posted on 02/08/2012

My kids clean up. Our play room is also the dining room, so if they don't get it cleared I can't get tea on the table. They'll do anything for food.

Candi - posted on 02/08/2012

hahahahahaha!!! My kids clean up, yeah right! Thats a good one.

Michelle - posted on 02/07/2012

Mine do but if my husband is involved in any of the supervision, they pick up a couple of toys, he declares they've done plenty for their age, rewards them like they just cleaned the Taj Mahol, then leaves the rest for me to clean up. It's kind of hindered my training in that area. I did get them to hang up their coats and put their shoes away instead of throwing it all in a mountain in the foyer (like my husband does). So I figure there must be some way to break through my husbands "help". Try emptying out all the toys one day (put it in the garage or something). Then maybe let them pick one each the next day and they can earn other toys by keeping the ones that are out picked up. Maybe the toy deprivation will force them to comply? That's a tough one.

Medic - posted on 02/07/2012

Mine are 5 and 2 and they are the ONLY ones that clean their playroom and bedroom. I have only had to "shut down" the playroom once. Every few months I go threw and reorganize but they are pretty good about it themselves. I do not have maid tattooed on my ass, nor am I shaped like a doormat.

Sarah - posted on 02/07/2012

Well mine is only 18 months so she's alot easier to fool. I sing a little about cleaning up while she is watching me pick up a few little things. Then I ask her to do something simple like putting all the blankets in a box or putting all the blocks back in the cubby-hole.

I wonder sometimes if she thinks it's a game, something I am totally cool with.

Especially since she is so young, I only ask for her help at the end of the day right before DH comes home. That is another aspect to it. She seems to like to make us happy so I tell her we need to clean up because Dad is coming home and a clean house makes Dad happy.

Oops, I rambled then realized that doesn't apply so much to your tribe. Maybe it can help someone else. lol

Amanda - posted on 02/07/2012

My kids only ever complain about tidying up their toys when their dad is home, they know he does it for them if they complain enough. If they refuse when he's not home and I have to do it I take the toys away.

If it's the last tidy up in the evening and they don't do it they go to bed early. I know it sounds harsh but I think they have both only ever gone to bed early once and I generally don't have a problem with them cleaning up after themselves.

Christy - posted on 02/07/2012

I take away the toys after I ask them 3 times and put them up where they can see them but not get to them. When they clean up the other stuff they get their toys back.