Hi all! I'm looking for fun ways moms have found to encourage their children to clean up after themselves. I expect a 2-year-old to leave a trail of toys behind him during play hours, but I need a good way to make participating in the eventual clean up fun. Thanks for your ideas!
I agree with MaryAnne the clean up song works the best!
If you don't know it/never heard of it ask any mom you know. I am sure they know it and can teach you.
We always sing a "clean up" song and that is usually enough to get my 2yo to help. Other things that work sometimes are:
- who can pick up toys fastest
- "guess" where the toys go
- pick up one, two, or three toys at a time
- pick up the orange/green/blue toys
Just anything to spice it up...
In addition to a song....I like to make it a sorting game. Like find all the "yellow" blocks, then "green" blocks or find all the animals or cars.......just go thru the gamut until you're clean/ Kids like to try to find things!
I was going to suggest the clean-up song too! LOL. My oldest learned the Barney one at daycare (apparently it worked for them too!). My kids, especially the 2-year-old twins, only seem to clean up when I start singing & clapping. "Nee-up" was one of their first words. : )
