How can I get my 5 and 7 year olds to pick up after themselves?

Question

Without drama!

Answer 1

my 10 year old would not put his dirty clothes to the laundry basket so to make him do it I started washing only things in the basket. By the end of the second week he was totally out of clothes and learned his lesson.

I would suggest something simmilar action-consequence approach. Maybe create a chart with stickers and place a sticker on it at the end of the day, say 6pm. If they collest 5 for the week cook their favorite meal or take him out somewhere. if they don't they will have to spend Saturday morning (brfore doing anythign fun, but I mean anything tv, computer, friends....) cleaning.
It worked for me
Good luck

Answer 2

They simply can NOT do anything else no TV no computer no playtime until they clean up. if you say "Pick up your toys" unplug the TV, and computer. Do not allow them to disobey you. Also the token system is a works well. Every time they listen or they are good, they get 1-2 tokens. 5 tokens = small reward, such as going to the park. 10= small new toy 15= medium toy. 20= big new toy OR going somewhere like the zoo. They can choose to either save up for a big prize or spend on several small prizes. At the end of the month they cash in. If they are bad they loose tokens. Refusing to pick up toys is worth 5-7 tokens. Another system could be the 3 strikes:
1= warning 2= warning & time out(5 mins.) 3= long time out(10 to 15 mins.) and 1 toy taken away.

Answer 3

Make sure that they do it as they play, not at the end of the day when there is so much stuff they are overwhelmed. Make sure that the shelves, bins etc. are not so crowded that they can't put stuff back. Give them plenty of warning of clean-up time. Don't let them have friends over if the place is a mess. If all else fails, tell them you will confiscate any toys left on the floor at the end of the day and mean it! Have them do extra chores to get them back, If that doesn't work donate the toys to charity. Without drama is probably a dream.

Answer 4

My mother had a basket on top of a very tall large shelving unit that she would throw everything in that we had neglected to pick up or clean. Then she would keep it up there out of our reach for days to get us to clean up and hold onto what we still had. Then after a week without anymore additions to the basket, we would have our items returned.

On another note, my dad would post the electric bill for each month. We had an allowance, and if the bill was over a certain dollar amount it would come out of our allowance. That certainly motivated us to keep the lights off, and the heat/AC down. On the flip side, if it was below the amount, we would be rewarded the difference.

Answer 5

Well if they have gotten away with it so far (mine did too) it is a hard habit to break. First they need to have bins or whatever, designated places for their things. Then the first few months, sometimes even now, I tell them pick up the Barbies and Polly Pockets first and then tell them the next thing, sometimes they are overwhelmed of where to start. Now that we have been keeping it clean for so long I simply tell them if I have to clean it you loose it for a set amount of time. And I have also told them who ever gives me the drama gets to clean the whole thing by themselves that usually nips the drama in the butt.

Answer 6

Since you didn't start it at 2 1/2 t0 3 years it's going to be difficult but you can do it. You have to be constant and persistent. Every time you see something out of place . call the name of the child it belongs to and make them put it where it belongs. Don't tell them to do it and forget about it. make sure it is done and don't let them do any other activity until it's done. Don't give in ,you're the parent!! Train a child the way he should go and he will not depart from it. Good or Bad they WILL go the way they are taught. Soon they will be going to sleep overs and you want other parents to always be glad to have them.

Answer 7

Hm without drama thats a toughie. With my kids I explain that when the room is a disaster toys get lost and broken. And it makes me think that they don't care about the toys they recieve. SO I just might not buy them any more toys if this is how they're going to treat them. They might be overwhelmed with too many toys. Pack up half the toys in bins and put them up and away somewhere. Rotate the toys to prevent boredom and to make clean up faster and easier. Also LARGE bins with picture AND word labels on the outside for toys help. I use bins and baskets everywhere! Shelf by the backdoor for shoes. Pegs for backpacks. Bins for blocks, dolls, trucks, everything Don't classify to small because sitting down to sort doll shoes from doll clothes is tedious tiring and boring. Kids clean up faster when they can throw toys in big bins. A place for everything and everything in its place! GOOD LUCK!

Answer 8

Develop a point system for them. Reward them whenever they do pick up. For example, given to them is 100 points in the beginning of the week...who ever leaves a mess gets points deducted and in the end of the week they can redeem them for a movie or a toy. If you find a mess and neither of them want to take responsibility both will automatically lose 10 points. This will encourage them to pick up after themselves and it'll be fun :)

Answer 9

nahh 5 r 7 year old normaly they dont pick up cuz they are not grow up yet maby like 3 r 5 more year then you tell them pick up the stuff they messed up. that good then. cuz hey made a 5 and 7 year old is not good around 8 r 9 then is good time for them to learn pick up for them self.

Answer 10

some times you cant be to soft on your kids.believe it or not kids are really smart and as a parent they also study you and know all your weeknesses and they use it against you .you have to love them and care for them but at the same time show them who is in charge . For example I have a 3 year old and a 6 months old baby. when my wife is home alone he dont cry much because he knows my wife wont pay no mind to him . but when daddy is home he already knows I dont like to hear him cry so when he sees me he knows that is my weeknesses and there goes daddy the hero to pick up the little boy.