At what age should a child keep his room picked up? My sons are almost 2 (21 months) and the oldest turned 3 in july. I think they should pick up their own toys and keep their rooms picked up. I don't really care if the toy room is clean, but i want them to put the toys in iout of their bedroom (they are connected). I sometimes tell them too but then get mad bc they are playing or bc the younger one won't do anything. I realize he may be too small but he makes most of the messes. I feel bad making my oldest clean up messes that h didn't make, so i do it myslef. I try to get boh to help me, but they won't. Should I expect more? Should I mak them clean it? How can I get them to hellp?
2006-11-11 02:41:35 · 11 answers · asked by Mama of Cuties 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
With the younger one, you may have to talk him through what to do. With my 24 month old, when I tell him to clean up, somethings he will pick up and put away, other he looks to me to ask where they should go.
Make sure that you give your kids a warning before it is time to clean up. Let them know that in 5 or 10 minutes they will have to stop playing and clean up. When they have 1 minute left before time to clean up, let them know that as well. It should help to make a smoother transition to clean-up time, without too much fuss. This is a strategy used in most pre-schools.
You can still expect that there will be times when one or both of them will rebel, but when that happens, be firm with them. I have baskets for my son that are lined up. If there are toys he forgets to pick up, then I remind him that he needs to pick up the toy and put it in the basket in order to clean up. I've been doing this with him for several months now, and he's beginning to be able to do it on his own. Sometimes he will ask for my help, and I will hand him the toys to help, but I still expect him to put them away.
Hope this helps.
2006-11-11 02:53:40 · answer #1 · answered by Meesh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the younger one is a little young to understand. The only way to get him involved is by turning cleanup into a game. And, YOU are going to have to help out a lot, too. SInce you're in there with them, supervising (you ARE, arent' you???), when you decide it's time to put the toys away, say "it's time for the clean up game" or whatever you want to call it. Maybe have a song that you put on or sing while you clean up, and later, all you'll have to do is play that music.
But don't expect them to do it on their own until they're 4 or 5.
If you can't handle a 2 and 3 year old, there will be no hope for you when they're 12 and 13. (Mine is turning 13 in 3 months).
2006-11-11 10:49:15 · answer #2 · answered by voxwoman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your almost-two-year-old is probably too young to understand the concept of cleaning up, let alone have the attention span to actually do it. Your three year old is certainly old enough, but he shouldn't be responsible for your youngest's toys. If you're making him pick up his younger sibling's toys he will not only be resentful, but he will likely resist clean up time more and more. Perhaps the Barney "Clean Up" song could help you out??? It works wonders for my daughter. I tell her we're going to have a race to see who picks up the most toys, then I turn the song on and we all race about, laughing and cleaning up. It's very effective and it makes clean up time into fun time. My daughter (2) has even been known to grab my shoes and put them away just to "win" the game. Of course, we always celebrate afterwards with big applause and a lot of positive energy.
2006-11-11 10:53:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 5.5 yr old and a 2.5 yr old~ they clean up their own toys..Not a GREAT (like mom would do job!) but they do clean up! Don't make it to where the older child doesn't clean up after the younger...ONE day the younger one will be cleaning up after the older...Remember you are a "FAMILY" and a family helps each other even IF it means picking up after someone else...Geez...if I didn't pick up after my husband...a mess I KNOW I didn't make...the house would NEVER be cleaned! I've turned it into a game...who ever picks up the most toys...gets to pick a snack..or a movie or a game of whatever...and 9 out of 10 times...YEP!! IT gets done!!!
2006-11-11 10:46:38 · answer #4 · answered by just me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 5 and 7 share cleaning the room together. But I still have to help them atleast twice a month to get it done all the way. My 2 year old does not have enough of an attention span to clean the toys up her self yet. To make it easier, you shoule help them untill they reach about 3/4 years old. I will make it easier for my girls by asking them to pick up just one selection of items at a time... Barbies, dolls, beanie babies, cars.... Then they are not overwhelmed with their messed up room and a statement of " clean your room"
Good Luck
2006-11-11 11:12:03 · answer #5 · answered by erinjl123456 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boys may take a little long to understand "responsibility" - at least that's what I discovered.. but 2yrs and 3 yrs are not too young to instill good habits. At that age you'll need to join them in this project to ensure it runs smoothly. I was lucky when my children were young. They learned quickly that when the vacuum was brought out anything left on the floor stood the chance of getting sucked up into the canister and it was gone forever... wow, just that small accidental act of vacuuming up a favorite toy made them more conscience of their things. They started putting their stuff away without my assistance.
2006-11-11 10:51:52 · answer #6 · answered by tampico 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start now! This is the one thing I regret raising mine! (They are 17, 15, 14 and 10) I didn't make them when they were that age because I thought that since I was the mom it was my job to make sure it got done. And to this day, I have to fight with them to clean their own rooms! And don't just stop there! If they make a mess somewhere else in the house, they clean that too! If they have a snack in the living room, they should take care of their dishes etc.....Now I run myself ragged trying to keep up with it all....I refuse to clean their room at this age though....so we argue alot about it....but I am the mom so I win....like they don't go anywhere untill it is done.....so please start now because this has not been fun arguing with them over this.....Teach them now and maybe you won't have to go through this.
2006-11-11 10:50:19 · answer #7 · answered by Shari 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a 3 year old and a almost 2 year old and a 6 month old and my oldest 2 share a room i find that they are more than willing to help me with whatever i'm working on i just ask them to help when i'm picking things up and they put them where they belong (with my help of course) kids at that age are easy to mold at that age and if you start teaching them now it will be easier on you down the line good luck mom
2006-11-11 10:50:28 · answer #8 · answered by katey b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my son is 4 and ever since he was about 2 i had him pick up his toys we made a game of it and now its no big deal. I also have him help me sort laundry he know his colors and he knows wht towels are its never to early what we prepare today is actually for tomorrow.
2006-11-11 13:52:44 · answer #9 · answered by ABF 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my son is 2.5 and when i tell him to take his toys to his room he will listen. the method i used was.......when i ask him to take the toy to his room, and he refuses, i take the toy and he does not get it back for a few days. eventually they will get the idea and want to keep all of their toys. Also, when the toy is given back, it is very important to explain why it was taken, as well as why you are giving it back. good luck
2006-11-11 11:45:59 · answer #10 · answered by Nick 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋