How do you get a four year old to help clean up her toys?

Answer 1

LOL I am still trying to figure out how to get my 4, 8, 10, 12 and 13 year old do as well as their 35 year old father. Actually I found mine more willing as toddlers because we made a game out of it. Sang the barney clean up son etc.

Answer 2

Depends on how she acts when asked most of the time my 5 year old will do it if i give her a reward like a cookie or small toy something simple, but if that doesn't work then i pick up half of them myself and put them into garbage bags and don't give them back until she can pic up the other ones the last time she had the room cleaned up before i even got to the garage with the bag of toys i took away allot of my friends and my sister with kids around the same age have started doing this and it works for them also

Answer 3

My daughter is also four, and she always uses the excuse "I'm tired", when I tell her it's time to clean up.

What I do is start off by helping her. As we tidy up together, I explain that I don't like big jobs, and that I always make sure I clean up one thing before I go on to a new thing. I also try and point it out to her as I do it during the day, so she can see it in action.

We also have designated areas/containers for her different types of toys. I can see that she enjoys knowing where everything is when she wants to play, so I think this also helps for her to understand if she puts things back, they will be easily found again when she looks for them.

Answer 4

Well, I dont give treats as some suggested for cleaning up what you used during the day, I explain that we all have "jobs" and this is theirs,I also require that if we are leaving the house or moving to another room that we clean up, if you don't help you don't get to play!!!!
If we are leaving and you don't clean up the left over toys go in "toy" time out, you are not allowed to play w/it again for the remainder of the day/evening!!!

Answer 5

I have a 2 year old & a 3 year old ( they just had there birthdays in April) they share a room. I have them help me pick up ther toys anytime we are leaving the house or when it's nap time or bed time. This way they know that they need to put back the toys they have played with when they are finished with them.At first it's hard to get them to want to do this but we made it into a race by singing a song & the toys have to be picked up & put away before the song is finished. They we cheer, clap, praise....

Answer 6

Children learn by example and direction. If your four year old is not being cooperative, help her by putting up a chart. Make sure the chart expresses the time for play and the time for clean up. Perhaps you can start out by allowing her to watch you clean up or make up your own bed, for example. Then you go with her to her room and show her how to do the same. Making it a game that 'mommy' is also involved in.

Answer 7

Make it fun. Maybe tell her that if she cleans up her toys in 5 minutes she gets a special treat. Or make it a race. "Lets see who can pick up the most toys the fastest" It worked for my daughter at that age. It even works for my 2 year old.

Answer 8

When my daughter (6 yoa) was old enough to understand the concept of "cleaning up after yourself" i simply told her that the toys belong to her, she has to take care of them and pick them up. Whatever is left on the floor after 10 or 15 mins, will be thrown away. and of course, i was completely bluffing at first, but a few times later, i really did start throwing toys out. its all a matter of learning to value what you have. If its not trash, it doesn't belong on the floor.

Answer 9

I started early with my 5-yr old. The floor was always trashed so I automatically picked up. Then he started helping and of course I was thrilled with that (so he got lots of praise for helping). Then it turned into if you help clean up the toys off the floor, we'll go outside and play or have some fruit snacks or whatever it was. Now, it's please pick up your toys so that mommy can vaccum!!!!

Answer 10

I use the "clean up" song of Barney (you find it in itunes), just turn it up when is time for clean up, I also organized his toys in plastic boxes, just draw what goes in there (cars, dolls, books,etc) and its easy for them to understand. I also use a chores chart, every time he clean up toys you put a sticker, every 3 stickers or every day he completes chores get a reward (candy, cookie,etc.)