Trying to keep the kids’ play area tidy is always a challenge. One comment I often hear from parents is: “I can’t get my kids to pick up their toys. They make the mess. Why can’t they just pick up after themselves?”
There are a number of reasons.
One is that they simply don’t care. This drives us crazy. We figure that if we point out how much nicer the space would look if it were tidy that they will agree.
But, the mess doesn’t bother them a bit. So when we try to convince them that the room would look so much better all neat and tidy, we’re wasting our breath. It looks fine to them!
The second is that once they determine by whatever means that this is a job they need to tackle, they simply don’t know how. Seems strange to us. They took the toys out, why can’t they just put them back?
Imagine a situation in which your dining room hutch fell over and all the dishes and glasses fell all over the place. Your first reaction would likely be to throw up hands and maybe burst into tears.
It’s just too much and you can’t figure out where to start. It’s the same with our kids. They look at all the stuff on the floor and can’t figure out where to start.
They need our help. So a little direction is in order.
Tell them: “First, pick up all the blocks and put them in this box and I’ll get all the little cars and trucks.”
“OK, now let’s get all the stuffed animals and put them on the bed.”
Soon the job is done.
Pay attention and make sure that they are doing their share and you will work together and make it happen. You can make it fun by singing as you work or telling stories about the toys you are handling.
And did you notice, you worked with them. Our kids just don’t have the level of self-discipline needed to do the job alone. So, work with them, and then have them come and work with you.
As you work together they’ll learn how to do the job and meanwhile you and your children are spending time together learning and maybe even having fun!
Once they are a little older or have had the experience of working with you a number of times they will be able to take on the task on their own.
A related challenge is figuring out where all the toys belong. Many of us use toy chests which certainly do help to make the space look tidy and organized.
The problem is that when kids go into the chest they end up emptying it all over the place and then play with the toy on the bottom of the pile.
I recommend shelving and containers. Then the kids can see which toy they want to play with. They can simply take out what they want and leave the rest. It works most of the time.
A container is needed for all those Lego pieces and small cars. Shelving works best for books and stuffies and so on. That way your child can see all the toys, consider what he wants to choose and remove that. With any luck, cleanup will only involve the toys from that particular container or shelf.
With a little planning and organizing, toy pickup can be manageable.
Kathy Lynn is the author of Vive la Différence, Who’s In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I’d Ever Have to Leave Home. If you want to read more, sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
