The house is a tip!! The kids won't do there rooms. do i make them or let them play out in the sun??

Question

The kids don't listen to a word I say but their rooms are a tip, I am cleaning up downstairs and the sun is cracking the flags outside. Because I have made a point of us all tidying up would I be daft to not carry on or should I give us all a break and pack in for the day??

Answer 1

play in the sun and get them to do there rooms 2night =D

Answer 2

It depends on how complicated your organization system is. My 7, 5 and 3 year olds (also have a 13-month-old) do quite well with a drawer for baby doll clothes, a drawer for Playmobile figures, a drawer for musical instruments, a big drawer for stuffed animals, and even a miscellaneous drawer! They should be able to handle some level of grouping and not throwing everything together. They're also old enough to learn that before they get blocks out, they need to put away the stuffed animals, or whatever. I would suggest having a cleanup time at least twice a day. Make them get stuff picked up and put where it belongs. Emphasize that this wouldn't take as long if they cleaned up as they go. Also, it's best if you see that x has been abandoned to tell them to either play with it or put it away. It is possible to avoid a disaster house. When my husband gets home, the living room (where most of play happens) is picked up completely, and during the day it usually stays within a reasonable level of toys out for play. It also helps to keep toys to a minimum. Some children have A LOT of toys. My children have two sets of toy drawers, together about 3 1/2 ft across, 1 ft deep, and 2 1/2 ft tall. That's pretty much all of their toys except for a few that sit beside it, a doll stroller, Playmobile barn (animals put away in drawer), xylophone, and a couple other things. There are also some board games and puzzles kept on a shelf that I have to get down. It makes it much easier when they don't have boatloads of toys within their reach. And yes, in our case, this meant quite a few donations of excess stuff to Goodwill. If we hadn't, our children would have about 40 or more stuffed animals and dolls, instead of a dozen. We don't have the space for an excess of toys, and that sort of excess isn't particularly good for children either.

Answer 3

Arent the challenges of being a parent fun?!? I think that if for the most part your kids are obedient and do what you ask them to, then taking a break can be a fun "break in the routine".

But if they are not still learning to mind most of the time (no child I've seen always gets it ;-)), then I'd suggest sticking with the plan of getting the house clean, and then earning the reward. Maybe there is a way to make being outside extra fun ... if you all work together to get the house cleaned up first.

Have a great day. Blessings, JE

Answer 4

You have to find a way to involve the children in helping you. I had a chart on my refrigerator and my daughter knew what chores she had to complete and when everything was done - we ALL had a chance to go out and have fun. If you don't start now ,your children will think that you are the only one who is supposed to do all the cleaning. They should help you chip in and then take a picnic basket and everybody can have some fun!

Answer 5

Go outside and play!!!!!!!!!

I'd rather have a messy house with HAPPY kids than a perfectly clean & tidy house with MISERABLE ones.

I always make sure we are all happy & having fun as often as possible (within reason, of course), b/c they are only young for such a little while!!! The household chores will be there waiting for you when you come back inside :) They always are! LOL.

Answer 6

there have been soo many times i wished i would have played outside with my daughter instead of spending the day on housework. on days like that, i just get done what HAS to be done for that day, then play outside. then, when its time to come inside, i have my daughter help pick up around the house. and as a reward for helping me to clean, i'll sit down and play her favorite game with her before she goes to bed. have fun while its nice! i think kids are more willing to help out when they've had thier fun first.

Answer 7

Well, I don't know how old your children are, but you could reason with them by saying, If we clean up half the room together now, then we can play together outside together and have a picnic on the grass too.

Then when you finish help them to do the rest.....but make the process fun or it won't work.

And play WITH them not just letting them play around you,
You are their greatest toy!!!

Answer 8

The mess will still be there tomorrow. Let the kids enjoy the weather and you too. Don';t let housework rule your life and ruin the kids'. They should obviously help you and keep their rooms clean but does it really matter if it waits a while?

Answer 9

dont give in, i know its hard but if you give in now they will know they can get away doing stuff if they put it off and throw a tantrum.

you need to get tuff, less words more actions (easyer said then done i know)

start grounding them, every day the room is untidy is an extra week grounded, every time you go into their room and find toys on the floor, you take those away for a week. and if all else fales a good spanking never hurt anyone.

Answer 10

they should meet you half way, the sun is shining and the kids are back in school on monday so i want mine to enjoy the fresh air, they could tidy their rooms later when the sun has gone or do a bit tomorrow, it is england so the sun maybe gone tomorrow.

Answer 11

I started at 7 this morn with the housework and have now finished, let them play out. It seems a shame to waste the nice weather.