Other peoples messy kids?

Question

My seven year old is popular with the nieghborhood kids and they all want to come and visit. In and out, tracking dirt, leaving "stuff" laying around, and trashing his room. Also... my roommate has a three year old that can't sit still and trails things all over the house. In the living room I can call them on it... but my son and I are always cleaning up rediculously huge messes in his room.

I've threatened to give his toys away, suggested he not let his buddies come over so much. It is a continous battle. I try not to get mad... but I get really sick and tired of going over this with him. Not sure how to handle the three year old, whom I babysit frequently. He leaves a trail in his wake. I'm very near banning him from my sons room entirely... but that's where I send him when he has tantrums... and the little noise box could spare me a headache some days by playing in the other room. Love them all verry much... I just feel like the kids maid sometimes. What to do?

Answer 1

Why don't you try to partition off one piece of the house where they are allowed to play and only in that room, be very strict about where they can play and insist no toys be removed from that place to another place, they can mess up that area but have to tidy up afterwords, when one toy is played with it has to be put away before another one is taken out, if still this doesn't work, than remove all toys and only let them play with one or two things a day then change the toys around each day, so they have something different to play with each day.

Answer 2

My son is 2. I also got tired of cleaning up so much mess all the time. I Have 2 big toy chests that I can lock up and a big "book shelf". He gets some toys on the shelves and everything else is locked up. I rotate his toys every few days and its more interesting for him this way anyway. He is too young to help me clean up but in a few months he will have to. I think a 3 year old can start helping to clean after himself. And where is his mother? Why doesn;t she help? Its her child!
As for the neighbors, tell them the rule in advance. Must clean up before leaving or does not getting invited in next time. Maybe you can come up with a game that will make cleaning up less of a chore and more fun ( Mary Poppins style? Hehe) And/or offer a treat for those who do a really super cleaning job (brownies, candies, glass of chocolate milk). Or come up with an "accomplishment chart" for those who visit, when they do a great job at cleaning up (even if its not heir mess), they get a star. At the end of each week, whomever has most starts or lets say more than a certain number of starts gets a surprise. It doesnt have to be anything expensive. And if everyone does great, how about renting a movie for all to watch and popcorn. They will be busy for a couple of hours and probably make even less mess that afternoon!. good luck.
PS- Do YOU have any suggestion how to get my husband to make less messes???

Answer 3

Kids are messy ,its better for them to be active than couch potato zombies though. I know how you feel I have 2 boys aged 4 & 3 and all I ever do is clean. The only suggestion I can make is after the neighbours kids have finished playing make them put the toys away before they leave. Tell them its the new rule or they cant play inside your sons room anymore. As for the 3 yr old you cant do much about it yet but that doesnt mean dont start trying. Make pack away time a game and he will help. Good luck.

Answer 4

I too have had this problem and when the kids come over now I tell them EVERY time(because they are kids) you make a mess you clean it up beforee you leave ..At first I had to go in there and say see this room it is clean and if you want to play inside here you have to make sure it is this way befor you leave If they say they have to be home at a certain time help them out by saying OK you have 30 minutes before you go start cleaning (cause they will play as they clean so it takes time) and Don't let them go till it is clean ..Just explain to the parents if they are human at all they will understand ...This goes as well for the little ones too teach them now and they will carry it over to adult hood ... Note it will be "work" for you to get used to saying this every time but in the end they go "I Know I know time to clean up " Good Luck

Answer 5

I often have this very same problem with my 10 year old son and his friends. After they leave, there is a huge mess for Ty to clean up...which I usually have to help with. Here is what I do to make it easier on myself, Ty and everyone else...When the kids come in, they are expected to take off their shoes, they are told that no one leaves until the room is clean(this means EVERYONE cleans up before they go beck out)and then I check the room to make sure it is tidy before his friends either leave or go outside. If it's still dirty, I usher them back in to clean up what more mess there is.
As far as the three year old...He can be taught to clean up after himself! I have worked with toddlers ages 1 and 2 for 12 years and if they can do it...so can a 3 year old! When u see him playing with something, just remind him he needs to "put it back" when he is done, you may need to take him by the hand and make sure he does this until he see you aren't kidding. You can also have him pick up "his mess". Good Luck and I hope this helps.

Answer 6

What a nice problem to have - be happy your son is popular!

But you are right - you do need to get your son and his friends trained before they get much older. How about half-way through playtime going into his room and getting them all to tidy up some of the toys that are out before they get any fresh toys out of the closet? If they do this without too much whining, this could be the cue for a cookie reward.

We also have a "street shoes are taken off in the hall as soon as you come in - socked feet or bare feet only allowed in the house" rule - you have no idea how much cleaning this saves me.

If you ever threaten to throw toys away because they aren't cleared up, then you unfortunately have to follow through with it, otherwise (as with all promises made to children) you won't be taken seriously next time. (Best give them to a charity/goodwill shop, though.) So maybe hold off on those threats for a while....

Another trick to alleviate the possibility of mess is the "one toy in, one toy out" rule - if my son wants a new toy, and if I'm thinking about getting it for him, then he has to pick some of his toys he has grown out of to donate to the charity shop before any new toys are allowed into the house. This really cuts down on the junk in his room, and also teaches him a bit about responsible giving (such as fixing and cleaning stuff before you give it away).

My final thought is that better your son and his friends under your watchful eye in your house, however messy it gets, than doing who-knows-what in someone else's house!

Answer 7

Welcome to motherhood! Ban the kids from playing in his room. Tell them that they can go in and pick out a couple of toys and bring them in to the living room, and then when they are finished they can put them back. Let his friends know that if they can't do that then they can find someone Else's house to mess up. As for the little one talk to his mom and she can help put some ground rules down for him.

Answer 8

1st the kids is only 3, he doesnt know to be lean, its kind of their job to just play. Once he gets to be around 5 thats when he should really know to be cleaning up after himself.
2nd you can tell the friends of your sons that they are not allowed over until they learn to clean up after themselves. If they can't pick up what they take out then they will just have to play outside, or at their house. See if they like having messes in their own rooms!

Answer 9

Kids are god's representatives. Accept them, love them and see the difference in your life !