Clean up Clean up Everybody Everywhere

How do you get your little ones to pick up their toys and put them away?? Everett will pick up 2 toys and then start playing with something, or walk around in circles acting busy but not doing anything. I picked up and organized his toys yesterday during nap time and by today ALL the tubs were dumped back on the floor because he was looking for something. I was tempted to take a trash bag and anything on the floor got pitched but thought better of it. I think tonight I will tell Everett that whatever he doesn't put away will be taken away and at least move it in a bag to the basement and maybe that will make him take me seriously.

Liam has NEVER been a clean up kid, OH I HAVE TRIED....But then along came Charlie and he is the bestest clean up boy around, he just loves to do anything to help....Ive tried to install the "theres too many toys out already, no more toys till you clean these ones up" and it seems to be working....EVEN Liam cleans up now, because he knows that there are certain toys that hes not allowed to get out and play with until he has cleaned up the toys around the living room...And we also have a clean up your bedroom before bed time rule.....Oh yes our house is full of rules HAHAHAHA....

About an hour before bedtime I told Everett that I'd spent an hour cleaning up his toys yesterday and how sad I was that the house was such a mess. I told him he needed to pick up his toys and put them away and if he left anything out that it would go in a trash bag. He did a very good job picking up and before bed I made him look around and make sure he didn't see anything that needed picked up and he did that too. The threat of trashing things may have worked for now!

Apparently she's a cleaning demon at daycare; but not at home unless I "help" or threaten her. Threats have to change often; right now it's threatening to not have a birthday party.

Tonight was a good night too, toys got put away before bed. He definately doesn't want his toys thrown in the trash. He is however willing to sacrifice baby brothers toys. . .lol silly boy.

Pamela - I know! Everett picks up wonderfully at daycare too! I think a lot of it is things are in very specific tubs to be put away. We don't have that kind of oranization and even when I try we can't keep it organized. Right now I'm settling for everything in any tub as long as no toys are out on the couch or floor.

I think she's just vying for teacher's pet points!!! She's such a suck up.

Amy we have a place for everything and everything has its place....I think thats my OCD hahahaha....But to me its the way it works, toys dont go missing, all the parts are where they should be....Ive got toys from when Zoe was a baby 12yrs ago that are all still working and have ALL of there parts....
Im also a biggy on break your toys and they get binned....No messing about here, Liam has learnt to be very careful and look after his things, OR THEY GO!!!! HAHAHAHAHA.....mean mum alert!!!!

I do the same as Nat. I have a bin for cars, one for trains, barbies etc. They are allowed one bin out at a time and have to clean it up before getting something else out. It isn't always full proof esp since everything isnt fully organized in this house.

Yeah, we're supposed to have a place for everything, but the kids love to mix and match where some pieces belong. It's like pulling teeth to get them to pick up, much less on their own. We try to make it fun, but the threats must come out most of the time and then it turns into a game once they get going. They have been threatened to have their toys removed and half of them are currently sitting out in the garage waiting to come back. I think we'll rotate or get rid of many of them instead so it doesn't get so overwhelming.