kid's rooms... help!!?

Question

My kids rooms stay messy (6yr old won't clean his..and 2year old..well he's 2 i can't expect much). how can i keep both rooms semi clean and organized????

Answer 1

My son's room has been a complete disaster for about 3 years (he's 7 now) - but amazingly, it has been clean and tidy for the past two months or so. He has recently started to play xbox/playstation games. He is not allowed any "multimedia" unless his room is in perfect condition. I have everything organized for him though... drawers for things, plastic tubs on shelves, and one big tub for him to stash everything. I don't care if the tub is unorganized... as long as his room is clean. He will play with everything... and most everything has it's "home", but there is a variety of stuff that just gets packed together in the tub.... this includes dirty clothes... he has a mini pop up basket.... all dirty clothes must be in there! I just hit a point with him and decided that he has to be responsible for keeping his room in order!! The leverage has worked for me! good luck!

Answer 2

You need to tell your six year old that if he doesn't help you clean his room you're going to do it all by yourself...with a big black garbage bag...it worked on me every time. Also for organization those plastic containers, like drawers and short and wide containers (that can hide under a bed with things like keepsakes and winter clothes) are great and not too expensive, from your local WalMart. Also find organizers that appeal to kids so perhaps he'll be excited about cleaning his room (well yeah right, but you might be able to get him to help atleast). Such as if you're walking through WalMart and he just see's the coolest dresser or organizer or something get it for him on the conditions that he can only have it if it can actually go in his room (that'll be clean). Also I found this net thing, you hang it from the ceiling and is sectioned off ab out every foot and has a hole in it so you can put things in it. Good luck

Answer 3

For the 2 year-old you can make it a game. When it's time to clean up you can go with him and do something like "let's find all the cars and put them in this tub", "let's find all the animals and put them to bed". This can also turn it into a learning experience.

For the 6 year-old, divide it up so it's not such a big chore and maybe tie it to a reward. "After you have picked up all the Legos, you can play the X-Box for 30 minutes". "We're going to the park, but first you need to put away all the crayons". This will help him understand that cleaning up has to come before other things.

Also, make it easy for them to keep clean by having multiple bins where things can be stored. If all the cars are in one tub they won't have to dig through the whole toy box to find the cars.

For laundry you can put a hamper in each room and maybe make a lion head for the 2 year-old and tell him to feed the lion his dirty cloths. For the 6 year-old put a basketball hoop over the hamper and let him score a basket with his dirty socks and what not.

Answer 4

Large toy box.Then tell them everything goes in there to clean the room.Then you clean that out once a week.Do the laundry and all will be well again.My daughter has 4 & 2 year olds.It works.The 6 year old knows when theres a mess,my 4 year old GD does,so work on that.Taking away 1/2 of the toys for 2 weeks then trading them works to slow down their boredom of all the toys.Hope this helps.

Answer 5

It is a simple cause and effect scenario. My suggestion is to setup a scheduled time (Friday afternoon) for the 6yr old to clean his/her room, and if it is not cleaned then a favorite toy is removed for the following week.

Your right the two year old is to young to expect much, but the six year old can do.

Good Luck

Answer 6

I used a cute laundry basket from Ikea and the kids would be expected to put the dirty laundry in there...(even the two year old can help)

Also, get them a kid size plastic snow shovel...when it is time to clean up, they get to "scoop" the toys up into the toy box...

You, as the parent, have to enforce the cleaning...make it a ritual before bed that they both have to help pick up...otherwise you will have a struggle later on...They are both old enough to help pick up toys...

Answer 7

i have this little gremlin who every time i clean he goes right behind me and messes up ( he is 5 ) ,,i have put up shelves ,, bought boxes and have threw away toys, but I still find them everywhere,,,i have started to do what i did when my oldest won't clean his room (he is 17),,, i shut the door,,,,,,maybe once a week i go in and get the clothes,,and pick up the dishes,,,and leave everything else,,usually he picks up the rest of the room,,mainly because it is starting to smell like funky feet,,,i started making a game outta it like putting a basket down the hall and seeing who can get most clothes in,,and who can load the dishwasher faster,,and its starting to work,,now if the 17 yr old would start id have alot more time 4 other things

Answer 8

Have "cleaning races" where you time the kid as to how long it takes him to clean his room. See if every time he cleans his room, he tries to beat the lowest time- his personal record. Include prizes and incentive rewards and you'll surely have your kids whistling while they work in no time.

For you, try sorting clothes into colorful bins or dresser drawers and make a game of putting the right colored item with the right colored drawer.

Answer 9

I have a 3 yr. old and a 1 yr. old and I have them both help me pick up their toys... Before naptime and at night before bed I turn on some fun music and we race around putting toys into bins and baskets ! They laugh and it's a fun game it also wears them out a bit before bedtime.. I do sometimes have to keep telling them to pick up toys.. Especially, if the music channel is on they want to watch the video, which is why is switched to either music choice or plain radio ! Good luck

Answer 10

well i can say with the 2 year he can clean....my little girl is 20 months and she will clean up her whole playroom/room.IF you sit with him and show him what to pick up and where to put it, they will do it. Many people are quick to say "they are only1, they are only2, they are only kids" but honestly they will do what is expected of them even a a young age.....I'm not criticizing your discipline or parenting skill, but I have worked in a daycare/preschool for over 8 years (mainly with 2/3 year olds) and i could write a book "Mistake Parents Make"