Don't step on those Lego's anymore!

If you are a parent, chances are it has happened to you...you've tripped over a toy or stepped on those dreaded legos! Ouch! Kids are notorious for making huge messes with their toys and not picking up after themselves. That is, unless you teach them otherwise! Yes, they might put up a fight at first, but teaching them to pick up after themselves is a huge benefit not only to you, but to them too! It will save your poor feet and it teaches them responsibility and the vale of taking care of their things.


My son, Alexander, in his playroom :)
 
So, how can this be instilled in your children? Well, start right away! I made the mistake of always cleaning up after my son myself. It just went faster and seemed easier at the time. But once he got older and I started asking him to clean up after himself, it became an issue. He wasn't used to doing it. So, start off expecting them to pick up from the get go, even if it is just "help mommy put the toys away", as you do it with them. So, aside from starting young, here are a few more tips on getting your kids to clean up after their play times...

Be organized. Have certain spots for everything. Try to keep toys together; blocks with blocks, legos with legos, cars with cars. It will be a lot easier for your child to put things away if there is order. The use of plastic bins, baskets or other containers is very helpful! Many times you can find good ones at the Dollar Store!

Consistency. Make sure that no only are you consistent in expecting your kids to pick up, but also that but that they do it throughout the day. Don't allow them to play throughout the day, then ask them to pick everything up all at once in the evening, before dinner or bedtime. Leaving it all for the end of the day will not only mean there is more to be done, but they may also be hungry or tired. Then they are more likely to have a meltdown over the task.

Explain the importance. Be sure to tell your kids that in order not to lose pieces of that puzzle, or pieces to that board game, they need to be put away correctly each time. Let them know that not doing so will cause a problem the next time they want to use it and it's not all there. Kids are smart and they will relate to the easy concept.

Be a good example.  Yes, sorry, this is where I point the finger at you! lol If you aren't following these same rules, chances are your kids won't either. Kids not only learn by what you tell them, but also by imitating your behavior. So, try to keep that in mind not only when it comes to cleaning, but everything else too! :)

Not too much! The one tip that I can share that I really need to work on in my own home...don't have too much! I notice my son has A LOT of toys! Too much! Sometimes it feels like he has so much, he doesn't even know what to play with or what he even has! As your kids grow up, try to sell or donate what they no longer play with. Keep in mind that anytime you tell or show your child you are going to get rid of something, they will say, "No! I still want that!" So, maybe weed out the toys while they are at school or in bed.

We all know that kids are expected to clean up and keep their areas neat in school, so doing it at home also will just be an extension of that. Even if your kids give you a hard time, just keep at it. Be firm. Have rules. No child was ever hurt from having some rules. No need to be mean or harsh of course, but rules are a good thing. And you will feel so much better and probably be less cranky yourself if you don't step on anymore legos!!! Right??? Yep!!! Happy mom, happy dad, happy kids = happy home <3


a clean playroom is always a good thing!


Comments

  1. Very well organized space. I have hard time dealing with this at my home. But we are trying !

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  2. I totally need to be better about cleaning up after myself so that I can teach it to my son! I'm notorious for leaving things and then doing a super clean when it gets really bad!

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  3. Ahhh playrooms! There is nothing that hurts more than a lego to the foot. Thanks for sharing- love the organization.

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  4. Great tips!! Legos and action fingers are definitely like little land mines all over the floor! I really need to organize our playroom!

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  5. This is a great list. I will have to refer back to this once my son is a little older and can actually grasp the concept of picking up. He is an infant now, but I guess it's never too early! ;)

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  6. It's an ongoing struggle! The easiest way I've found is to have a designated space for the toys, like you do in the photo. Ours isn't nearly that organized but it keeps things from ending up in the middle of the floor. Good ideas!

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  7. Great tips! and you have an amazing play room! Wish we had space for one.

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  8. Boy can I relate! I've stepped on many Legos in my days! I don't make my son pick them up every day but at least once a week we do a big pickup.

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  9. Ahhh yes those pesky toys! I like you tips and really need to start getting my 3 yr old to consistently put the toys away. I've been dying to weed out the toys but I don't even know where to start.

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  10. Great advice! In our house we do small pick ups during the week, but put everything back where it belongs on Sunday. We play music, we all help out and we start the week off in a perfectly clean space! This routine works great for us!

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  11. Great tips - I agree! I try to rotate toys as well so it seems like my boys have "new" things to play with even though there not! :)

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  12. Great advice, we definitely need to get rid of some toys around here!

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  13. My daughter is 3 going on 4. Now is the perfect time to start instilling good habits when it comes to picking up after herself. I'll have to put some of these ideas to good use!

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  14. Awesome pointers! I've done many of these with my two and now they pick up their toys like pro's!

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  15. Great tips! Good habits are the most important thing to teach to the little ones

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  16. Our household definitely lives by these values as well. Since the time my son could crawl he was "helping" mommy clean up his toys. As he got older more and more of that responsibility was his own. At 2 he cleaned up everything himself before moving on to the next toys. I think it's really important for later in life to teach organizational skills!

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  17. Remaining organized is always helpful! Great post :)

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  18. Great tips! This is something we are working at.

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  19. These are great tips, I'm definitely with you on the not having too much one, my husband and I really try to limit how many kids our toys have, kids don't need that much! They play with the same toys all the time anyway.

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  20. Great tips! :-) I still remember all those legos on the floor! I used to love them as a kid!

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  21. I use to put time on a clock and we would all clean until the buzzer goes off. In fact, I still do that for myself.

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  22. wow! this is amazing! I love how you used the crates. gives it a little somethin'! I have post showing our school supply storage / curriculum go check it out! I will have a before and after post coming soon showing how we had our stuff before!! so make sure to subscribe and you will get notified when it comes up!

    http://stickyboogerhomeschoolers.com/2015/10/whats-in-the-bag/

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