Right or wrong?

Question

When children leave their toys on the floor they get thrown away?
Lets say the kids destroy their playroom, not by playing but by being destructive, strewing about board games, puzzles, legos etcetera.... so you dump everything haphazardly in bins and put it away telling the kids that you "threw it all away" Right or wrong was to go about it? Lets also say that you gave them ample warning to clean up as they went, and to clean up the huge whole mess or else.

If I sit in the room with them, they will constantly look up and tattle on each other over everything, but it seems if I step out they manage to sort things out themselves. Our rule IS one toy at a time. You put up the toy in your hand before you take out another. And I peep in and check on them every 15 mins-- and tell them remember the rule, pick up or its going to be a mess! So they had their chance. I've seen their father make them straighten out worse. I tell them that I'm not going to help because I didn't make the mess. A couple days with no toys, maybe some blocks and they might treat their toys and playroom a little nicer, don't you think????

Answer 1

We have, before, told our children to clean up. We don't give warnings in our family so - when we went up to see how clean it was and found them playing - I went back down, got a trash bag, and bent down to pick up a toy. Then I told them, I am going to start walking through these rooms and picking up any toys that are out of place to throw them away. Better start picking up, and fast, because here goes the first one.

It has worked like a charm both times I did it. It only took two times and now they scramble to clean up singing and 'racing' whenever I say 'time to clean up'.

Answer 2

i think that if your children are being destructive it is becasue they are bored and understimulated.
you dont say how old your children are but you cannot expect small children to be able to sort out this kind of mess on theyre own, they wouldnt know where to start.
toys should be away in boxes and cupboards and you should give them a couple to play with at a time, and they shouldnt just be left to play in a room, play should be supervised and is an important part of learning and spending time with you.
what you should have done was tidied the room with the children and then packed the toys away and restricted the childrens use of the playroom because of the mess.
my children know they get one toy out at a time and play with it , then put it back and get another. and they are only 3 yrs ( twins) and 2 yrs old. i have older children too, and they have learned to respect their things and their mother by the way i have brought them up, we do puzzles and games, art etc together and then tidy up together.
you cant totally blame the children for this, as it wouldnt have happened if you had taught them properly in the first place, and spent more time with them.
all that grabbing all their things into bags shows that you have no respect for their property either, and that you are losing control.
maybe you should sit down with the children and set some playroom house rules, tell them what is expected and set a rota for jobs for them each to do. dont shout and scream and issue threats. you need to keep in control.

Answer 3

What I do with my kids is tell them that I'm going to throw it away because if it's too messy to clean they have too many toys.

Eventually what we did was only let them have toys that had 1 big piece. Like a truck. Anything that was "kid connection" toys with 10 gillion parts all got trashed. Yes literally put in the trash.

I would have toy boxes filled on the bottom with old doll shoes, wheels, puzzle pieces, some shiny thing and a potato head ear.

It's amazing how many things can accumulate.

Just try to get a grip on the situtaion, brace yourself for birthdays and Christmas.

Don't think it's mean to "secretly" throw away junky part filled toys. My kids have NEVER noticed when they are gone because they are so overwhelmed with all the toys anyway.

Answer 4

Yes, putting it away so they can't have it is a good strategy. Only don't lie to them by saying you "threw it away" because lying is wrong and does not build trust.
You should say, "you will get your toys back one at a time. When the toy is put away every day for a week, you will get another toy back." Do not allow any new toys or gifts until all toys have been "earned" back.

Answer 5

You shouldn't lie to your kids saying you threw things away when you didn't. Tell them the items have been put away until they start picking their toys up. If it means taking everything away for awhile then do that. Give only 1 or two items back at a time when they have earned it.

Answer 6

I put whatever toys that are not put away in a garbage can and leave it in the playroom, where she can see it, and take the toys inside away for a week.

I also give "stars" when she pick up her messes, and other chores/positive behavior, that earns her a prize at the end of the week. (dinner out or a cheap toy at the dollar store)

Answer 7

I don't think it's *wrong* to tell throw them away. That's a personal decision that you have to make as a parent. It do think it might work better to put the toys up where they can't get to them and let them know what you are doing. Give them a chance to earn the toys back with good behavior. That way you both win--they get their toys back and you get them the behave the way you expect.

Answer 8

i will actually throw it all in the trash and let them pitch their fit and then when they arent looking i'll take it out in a box to the barn and hide it for some time ( so i don't really have to throw all the money i spent on these toys down the drain too) one day a while later ill bring it back out but my husband throws away the inexpensive toys or makes the kids bag it all up and donate it to charity. it makes him feel better about "throwing it away"

Answer 9

Sounds good to me. If it wasn't from playing and b/c of destructive behavior, I say good job and it will definately teach them a lesson. You could try only putting several toys in the toy room and change them out every week. Thats for when you decide to give back some toys and allow their privilages back. I tell my girls that if you are not going to respect your toys then your not going to have anymore toys.

Good for you and good luck to you!!!

Answer 10

Depending on the age, it seems a natural consequence to me, either take care of your things or don't have them. Teaches responsibility I should think for kids old enough to understand (which if they are allowed to play unsupervised and have time to destroy everything they should be old enough to understand respect for their possessions). I wouldn't throw them away though, I would give them away to the local mission.