Kids Cleaning up After Themselves

I think the easiest thing that could be done is take away things they enjoy until they start helping. I use to have a house full in the summer with nieces and nephews and I needed help from them. Either they helped or they didn't get to go swimming or something like that. If they have video games tell them they aren't allowed to play them until they do what you asked them to do.

I would withhold allowances, ground them, whatever until they help clean up. Another idea is to get a big garbage bag, or better yet, one bag for each kid. Give them notice that if they don't clean up their stuff by "x" day and time, it is all going in the trash. But you have to stick with it. I bet after their belongings end up in the trash, they'll get the idea.

For my six year old, I put together a chore chart. We have been doing this for a few months now, and it seems to be woeking out very well. Not only is she learning to be responsible for her chores, but she is also learning how to save money. She saved enough money in two months, that she did her own x-mas shopping this year.

I understand how you feel. I am a mom of a 7yr old boy. He was more responsible and did a better job of cleaning up after himself between 2 and 4 than he is/does now. I have discovered that if he won't clean up he mess or his room, I ground him from the t.v untill it is done. Sometimes he just wants me to help him a little to get him motivated. You have a wide variety of ages in your kids and I know some of my friends with older kids give their kids chores to do. A lot of times I have my son Vacuum for me while I clean the rest of the house - giving him a sense of responsibility with something he thinks is fun to do. I know other people who make a game out of cleaning. Like who can get their chore done first. Or the first one done gets to pick out what game we'll play when we're done cleaning or the family movie to watch that evening. Cleaning and chores don't always have to be boring and dull. Granted us moms work all the time and we don't always feel like doing thing but kids need to learn how to do things for themselves because they will be on their own someday and won't always have us moms to do things for them. You may also stress to you kids that if they would pick up after themselves and help you do the chores there would be more time for you to do fun things with them and then make a point to do them. I hope this helps.

C.,

Jamie has some great ideas. I would like to add that you can also charge them for not having a clean room (they must pay you or have allowance reduced.) Children that age like to leave the house and do things with friends or have them come over. You can use that as leverage also.

The bottom line is that if you are inconsistent or do it for them or let their rooms go messy, they will stay messy. The rooms don't have to be spotless, just picked up and clean enough to walk through and find everything.

Also, make sure there is a place for everything and they know where it goes. A very messy room can be overwhelming to anyone, especially children. So teach them how to take it one corner or one project at a time and do it WITH them for a while. Saying "go clean your room" will not get results. I remember my mother nagging on me about this and it never inspired me to clean, especially because her room was so much worse than mine.

You can even create a chart of what must be done because "clean" can be a very subjective description, so be specific. (Laundry in basket, chair pushed in, bed made, belongings in correct bin, floor picked up and vacuumed, etc.)

Best of luck,
S.

Good Luck with this problem. I have a 9 year old girl, a 7 year old girl, and a 22month old boy. The only one who will pick up after them self is the boy. As for the other two I just have to stay on top of them all the time or just close the door to their room(that is if the mess isn't somewhere else) I could suggest chore charts or rewards, but chances are you've already tried those. So if all else fails, just close your eyes and think to yourself "this too shall pass" It will all be over before you know it:) Good luck going back to school
and don't sweat the small stuff