Tripping over your kid’s toys on the regular? A few years ago, it felt like I was constantly finding toys, no matter what room I was in at my house. Whether it was a Lego piece in my shoe, a puzzle spread across the floor, Hot Wheels piled up in the corner, or crayons under the kitchen table….THE TOYS WERE EVERYWHERE! Here is how to prioritize how to encourage toy cleanup.
RELATED: Efficient toy cleanup requires simple toy storage solutions. This post will give you everything you need for that toy you continue stepping over.
Toy mess is a season.
Stepping over wooden puzzles and finding Lego figures in couch cushions seems to come with the job of parenting. Children are notorious for playing with a toy, stepping away for a snack, and keeping the parts and pieces right where they left them.
As an expert, I value play and a child leaving something out to return to it. But these toys were not a wooden block build or magnetic tile castles. Nope. These were the toys tossed around without purpose, needing a home.
The good news is that as a mom of now big kids, I can’t say the mess goes away, but the type of toys around your home is a season, not a lifetime.
Implementing some new practices and routines helps facilitate the responsibility of cleaning up.
In this article, I will share tips for HOW TO get your kids to start cleaning up toys. And let me tell you, parents: this is a post you’ll want to save and share! It has a simple technique to encourage cleanup that has worked for us for years.
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- Order the easy-to-follow activity cards.
- Build the foundation for social-emotional learning.
- Notice a shift in self-confidence and self-regulation as you and your child implement what you practice.
Truth: most kids don’t want to clean up
Let’s be honest; kids don’t want to clean up. That’s no secret. Kids are full of energy, exploration, and curiosity. Focusing on the task of putting away all of their fun toys before moving on to the next activity can seem boring and stimulating. If your child is not interested, you didn’t do anything wrong. (kind of like how that load of laundry is sitting on my bed right now)
Figuring out how to motivate your kids to help clean up their toys is the key to teaching them about responsibility and independence. Chores for toddlers may look different than cleanup for big kids.
Why cleaning up is so important
Although it may seem boring and often may come with some resistance, getting your kids to help with cleaning up can help with many developmental parts of growing up. It helps to develop:
- Confidence
- Independence
- Organization skills
- Sorting skills
Researchers find that when children are taught to be a part of the cleanup process, it helps to build:
- Empathy
- Independence
- Responsibility
- Self-reliance
When cleaning up is integrated into your child’s daily routine, they will slowly become less resistant to putting their toys away. You can instill such important values through various tasks and chores around your home to help build a sense of:
- Belonging
- Community
- Inclusivity
- Teamwork
Steps to encourage kids to help clean up toys:
It’s taken some trial and error in our home, but I’ve found that keeping the cleanup process simple has been instrumental in making it a successful and positive part of our daily routine.
- FIND a piece of paper.
- PICK a few toys that need to be put away – even if the floor is covered with toys, select a couple that can be grouped together (i.e., puzzles, wooden blocks). Choosing a few will make the overall task of cleaning up seem less overwhelming.
- MATCH your child’s age with the number of toys to be picked up (i.e., a 3-year-old puts away three toys, etc.).
- WRITE the name of the toys and a simple drawing to create a visual checklist on the piece of paper. (shown in the image above)
- READ the checklist out loud, so your child is audibly aware of their role in cleanup time.
- FOLLOW UP by letting your child know what is expected and what is next (i.e., after you clean up, then you can watch a show).
The struggle can be real….here are more tips:
Similar to bedtime routines for kids, it’s a good option to have some extra ideas to help mix up the routine to help motivate your kids to practice cleaning up toys.
- Always remember to acknowledge your child’s effort – Knowing how to say Good job! to your child is an important part of recognizing their hard work.
- Be consistent – Stick with your expectations of cleaning up toys after playtime to build the routine.
- Be flexible – If your child would rather put away a different toy than the one you suggest, it’s okay! Express your pride to show them that you recognize their efforts.
- Easy & accessible storage solutions are key! – Toy storage that makes clean up quick and easy is an essential part of making clean up do-able for your kids.
- Make it a game – Have fun with cleanup time by seeing who can toss the balls into the basket or complete the puzzle the fastest.
- Make a timelapse on your iPhone – This is my kid’s MOST motivating way to clean up; they love watching the playback.
- Offer a reward – Offer a snack or watch a show after they are done cleaning up.
- Play music – Listening to music can help the time pass and provide a distraction to the task at hand.
- Set an audible timer – Hearing a timer go off is encouraging and rewarding for kids.
Looking for more easy storage inspiration?
Remember, kids need to know where something goes when it comes to toy organization. Here are some other helpful toy organization strategies that have helped us over the years.
- 20+ Best Playroom Ideas & Design Tips
- Art Cart – Kids Art Supply Organization
- Kids Playroom; How to Craft the Perfect Space
- Lego Organization Storage Solution
- Puzzle Storage Organization
- The Best Toy Storage Solutions
Key Takeaways
Cleaning up toys for kids can feel like an overwhelming task. And sometimes just cleaning it up yourself can just feel easier: less conflict and faster clean up done your way sometimes sounds better. But teaching your kids the value of cleaning up is important to strengthen their sense of responsibility, independence, and community within your home.
Try some of these tips and ideas for cleaning up toys to build effective and efficient cleanup practices to keep your home tidy (ish) and your kids gaining responsibility.
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CLEANUP FAQ
It’s never too early to teach your kids about caring for their belongings and putting their toys away. Children as young as one year old often show interest in putting items inside of other items. For example, you can practice showing your little one how to return blocks to their storage container. As your child gets older, you can progress on what and how much they are responsible for putting away.
Mix up “clean up” time by having fun with it! Try making it a game, a friendly competition, or setting up a timelapse on your phone so they can watch the playback of them cleaning up once they are done.
Make cleaning up simple! Create visual checklists, offer a reward once they are done, and consistently have cleanup be a part of their playtime routine. Simply teaching your child about the importance and responsibility of cleaning up can also help older kids understand that cleaning up is part of getting older.