How to Get Your Toddler to Clean Up
How to Get Your Toddler to Clean up Their Toys
Trying to get your toddler to clean up their toys can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. If you’ve been trying without luck to get your kid to pick up, know that you’re not alone. I still struggle with my toddler on occasion, because he’s….well, a toddler!
But for the most part, he cleans up without too much fuss. Today I’m going to share with you the ways that I get my toddler to clean up without it ending in yelling or tears (from him or me!) So let’s get to it!
Start Early
We began cleaning as a family as soon as my son could walk. When we got done with a toy or activity, my husband and I would enthusiastically make a point of putting the item back where it belonged. Although the concept was foreign to him at the time, my son quickly learned that this was just a part of getting toys out.
To begin with, you will be doing the majority of cleaning. Your baby might put one or two toys away while you get the rest for a few weeks or months. Then you can gradually have them put more and more until they are able to take over the lion’s share. We use a cube storage system similar to this one in his bedroom.
Make it Part of Your Routine
Each night before bed, my son has 5-10 minutes of playtime. Before we go through our nightly ritual, we clean up any toys that were left out during the day. This does two things: it teaches him to clean up his own messes, and it leaves his room ready and decluttered for the following day.
Routines and structure are important for children. You may receive some pushback because your toddler wants to keep playing but you can gently remind him that you have to clean up before bedtime, and sooner or later, he’ll get the hang of it. The more you reinforce the routine, the more likely you are to see less mess.
Make it Fun
Challenge your toddler to see if he can throw his stuffed animals into the bin. Turn into a tickle monster who has to tickle little ones who don’t clean up their toys. Sing songs and play games to get your child interested in cleaning up their toys.
Have Less Available
When you are playing, limit the amount of toys your kid can get out. I have noticed that if my son gets out every toy in his room, he really plays with nothing. He just bounces from toy to toy and gets bored quickly.
If you only get out, say, three items (or sets, like a tea set or ball and net), your child is going to be more likely to focus on those items and really play with them.
You can also get more longevity out of toys that inspire imagination. Things like blocks or legos can be used several different ways, rather than a toy fishing rod that only….catches fish.
Designate Toy Zones
In our house, the train set goes in the playroom. That means my son is not allowed to take trains up in his bedroom or carry them around the house. This ensures all the parts stay together (most of the time, where are my toddler mommies at?) and that they are put away together. Same goes for his musical instruments in his room, and the small toys we keep near his high chair for quiet play. Which brings me to my next tip…
Assign Toys to Bins
You can use baskets, clear plastic bins, or whatever makes the most sense for you. I use baskets similar to these in the playroom. There are two ways I like to do this:
- Assign each toy set (like trains or play kitchen) to a single bin. Only kitchen stuff goes in the kitchen bin. Give each set its own bin so that you’re not using the bins as catch-alls.
- Assign a type of toy to a bin. That means all plastic figurines go in the same bin. The ninja turtle figured get lumped in with that random plastic Christmas penguin. You child can pull out all of the figurines (or dolls or stuffed animals etc…) at once.
Pick Your Battles
Some days things just get out of hand. On the days when nothing seems to be going right and your toddler wants to pick a fight about cleaning, take a step back and decide if it is worth the fight on this particular night.
Now I’m not saying to make a regular habit of giving in, but once in a while won’t hurt. If it saves you the headache on a day when you really just can’t deal….that’s ok. You can pick up your sword and do battle tomorrow.
Routinely Declutter
When there are less toys, it means less time cleaning up. When it only takes a few minutes, your child may be more willing to clean up on a regular basis.
Take the time to go through and see what your son or daughter no longer plays with. Donate it to a friend with younger children or a consignment shop.
Check for broken or missing pieces and discard appropriately. I like to go through twice a year and declutter. Once in the spring and once before the holidays. Especially in the fall, I know new toys will be coming in so it’s a great time to get rid of the excess!
For more tips on decluttering, click here.
Getting your toddler to clean up their toys can be frustrating at times, but once you get this routine in place, I’m sure you’ll find that it gets much easier. Have you implemented any of these tips to get your toddler to clean up? If so, let me know in the comments below!
