Hey Moms - How to Tame Toys?

tricia

tricia

Cathlete
Hello everyone,

I'm wondering what all you parents out there do to keep the toys from taking over each room in the house? I have a 4 year old who isn't grasping the idea of cleaning up her toys, as well as 2 year old twins who like to knock over or empty whatever I've just put away!

Does anyone have a system that's working or ideas that have worked to get the kids involved? I want to nip this behavior in the bud before they start thinking I'm the Maid!

TIA,

Tricia
 
Sorry - we converted our extra bedroom to a playroom to help with this problem....but it only worked for a little while. The problem with an only child is that she doesn't want to stay up in her playroom all alone, so she brings them down wherever we're hanging out.

We had some success with "if you leave it out, you'll lose it for a week", but we've never been really consistant with that. This issue falls into my "pick your battles" category. If I was a neat freak, I'd make a bigger deal out of it.
 
Well, the 4 yo is beginning to get there, age wise, but still is pretty young to be able to follow through without help. 2 year old twins, GOOD LUCK! LOL!

You can do the "Before you get something else out, let's put this away" technique. That works with my 3 yo.

You can do the "I am throwing away whatever is left on the floor when I return" but this works only with my older (6 and 8) kids.

Super Nanny had a thing where she had the parents pack away all of the toys in the garage, and the kids were each allowed to fill a small box with favorites, which was kept in their playroom. As they proved they could take care of those toys, they could earn another toy to come out of storage.
 
When I was a nanny, at first, we would make a game of seeing who could pick up toys faster.

When she got wise to that, I did the, "you-pick-it-up, you-put-it-away; I-pick-it-up, I-throw-it-away" threat. I only threw away one toy in my six-year tenure there (and I made sure it was something that was not that special or expensive) to prove that I meant it. Worked like a charm. Plus, I made sure I didn't ask her to start cleaning up when I knew she was ready for a nap and already tired and cross.

I also didn't let her take out lots of toys at one time. After she had two or three out and wanted another, I'd say, "Okay, but let's put this one away now. I think the doll needs a nap," or something like that.
 
When my kids were younger, we organzied a walk-in closet for their toys. After my twins were born, we converted the downstairs walk-in closet into a much needed powder room. We made half of our large living room into an organized playroom. It was easy since the living room is separated into two rooms with a half wall and wood beams.

I had designated areas for different types of toys. I used rubbermaid containers, small suitcases, and tote bags for storage. One corner of the room was their pretend corner. They had their huge Cozy Cottage playhouse, dollhouse, and little tykes kitchen in it. Another area was a reading area with bookcases, books and comfy pillows. Another area was a manipulative/math area with boxes filled with math games, legos, and puzzles. Another area had their music instruments (maracas, finger cymbals, drums, silk scarves, tape player, etc). Another area was for art (easel, dry erase board, bulletin board, child sized desk/chair, coloring books, chalkboard, etc..) We bought a large storage cabinet for board games and art supplies. I also rotated toys. I kept some toys in the attic and their bedroom. A set of dolls stayed in their dollhouse. A set stayed in their rooms.

For board games, you can put the pieces into ziplock bags and attach the bag to the board game. Throw away the cardboard containers. When they were little, we put all the puzzle pieces into one open container and stacked the puzzles on top of each other. We put all their crayons into one container. I remember using a lot of empty baby wipe containers for small items.

We also taught them to put away their toys immediately. Having a desginated area helped them learn to do this. The playroom is now in chaos. It's my fault for not getting rid of outgrown toys. A spring cleaning is in order!
 
Tricia,

I don't have any advise for you, I am struggeling with my 11-year-old and 7-year-old to have things put away. We have a play room where most of the toys are stored but they still take over the whole house and I don't even want to open the door to the play room.

My husband is not much better, he has his stuff on the counters, kitchen table, dresser. His clothes don't go in the laundry hamper, they go next to it, or on top of it. I guess, it is really hard to lift that stinkin' lid }(

So the boys don't have a really good role model there :)

I have started to make them put their stuff away before we eat dinner, or before they go to bed but I think consistency is the key and I am slacking off frequently, because time is always an issue and it takes me less time to pick it up myself, than to "supervise" them picking stuff up.

I know what you are saying about being the Maid. I do feel like I am, and it is overwhelming at times. I have a full-time job and I have to clean up after everyone on top of everything else. Sometimes I just feel like going on a weeks vacation by myself and have my DH deal with the mess, because he thinks it's my time management or lack thereof.

Good luck!

Carola
 
When the kids were about the age of your twins and younger, we kept one box in each room the played in for their things so it made for very easy cleanup; they really aren't too young for it. My kids started learning to put their toys in a box when they started walking around 1. I always made sure I gave them verbal praise (more because I am a dorky mom who really is proud of her kids than for their benefit ;):p ). When they were about three, I had one special basket with wheels on it that they could put their toys in and bring out of their bedroom to the living room and then put it back when they were done. I helped them with the clean up, but make sure they do much of the work. Now I have a 10 and an 8 year old and I do the "if you leave it out around the house, it goes to goodwill" bit and it works because I actually do it }(

As far as getting into things that you just put away, what is it? Is it their toys or is it linens/dishes and the like? When my kids pulled out something that they weren't supposed to get into, I put them in timeout. As soon as they got out, I had them clean it up (the best they could) and show them something they can play with. It didn't take too long to catch on because most kids HATE time out, but you have to be really consistent and for a while it will seem like it is all you do all day! But once they got it, they got it and you shouldn't have to worry about it any more.

I have a chart for my older kids now that is a reward/discipline system and it works wonders, so it may be something to think about for when they are older.

HTH :)

Missy
 
>I have a chart for my older kids now that is a
>reward/discipline system and it works wonders,

Missy,

I was thinking about something like that, so what kind of chart do you use and what reward/discipline system? Could you give an example or two ? I am a little challenged in the ideas departement :)
Thanks so much!


Have a great day!

Carola
 
Carola, here is the list (and I tried to keep it in order from the time they wake up):
make bed in the morning (otherwise they do it whenever)
put dishes in the sink
brush teeth (this is very needed for my son who could care less)
clean up homework and book bags/shoes/lunchboxes
after dinner chores (each week they take turns, this week DD is helping me clean up the kitchen and DS is cleaning and vaccuming the living room)
clean their rooms... as in CLEAN them! no shoving under beds ;)

and I HAD to add:
be kind and helpful to each other
obey with a happy heart :p

when they start to do things autonomously I may take and add other things (switch putting dishes away with turning off lights)

I have a dry erase board that has magnetic stars on it that I got from Target. I can't find it on their website, but it has all the days listed for you and lines on the board to keep the chores seperated. I LOVE IT! They can get a star for EACH TIME they put the dishes away after they eat, so up to three times a day and 2 for brushing their teeth. For every 20 stars they get (which averages 2-3 days) they get to watch one half hour t.v. show or play a computer game for 30 min. When they use all of their stars (about 36, I think) in one week, they get one full hour of t.v. or computer games. If they use up all of their stars and are being REALLY great at keeping up, at the end of the week they get to go out for ice cream. If they are great three weeks in a row they can pick out a CD, yu-gi-oh cards or a movie, etc. ESPECIALLY if they are helpful with each other. :) When they don't do their chores there really isn't any repercussion, but if they consistantly don't do something then I start taking stars away for the chores that they don't do. Doesn't really happen often (except for being kind to each other :p).

I have more specific charts for them in their rooms taped up behind their doors that they put their own stickers on. Those are more like: have a friend come over, have a friend stay the night, stay the night at a friends... DS is lazy, so we give him incentives to be less so(you don't want to see that list), and DD is disorganized (obviously not from me, lol) so she gets rewarded for keeping her room and things in order and for putting things where they belong. I am not a chart junkie, I swear, but this just really helps me and the kids to keep on top of things.

I really hope that this will still work when they are teenagers!

eta: I forgot to mention that the beginning of each week is a fresh start. If one week was bad, we get to forget about it and start anew!

Missy
 
Tricia,

Thanks for starting this thread. My toddler leaves his toys all over the place. I was talking to my husband one day while he was working. He asked me what our son was doing, I told him "He is tearing up the house!!". I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago, I was on crutches for a few days, and I can't tell you how many times I almost fell with the crutches trying to hop over toys!!
 
I've found that it's key to have storage handy in any room you'll be playing with toys often. We have a nice basket in the living room for the toys that are typically played with there, a big toy box in the dining room (sounds weird but it works well in the space), plus a closet downstairs totally devoted to board games and toys. In addition, we have storage in each of the kids' rooms, plus a play area on our 3rd floor that is well organized.

That way, even when the place is a mess, it only takes a few minutes to get everything picked up. When we didn't have all the storage on the first floor, it was a huge PIA to get things put away, as we'd be toting them to other areas of the house.
 
I have a 6yr old son, and here are a few things that have worked. Before any big present getting occasion - birthday, Christmas, Easter, whatever, clean out!!! If it hasn't been played with recently or they have out grown it, get rid of it. If it's something really special, a favorite stuffed animal or something, then it can stay. If I have to tell him to pick it up more than 2x it goes in my room for the rest of the day. I will do that 2x. After that, it goes in the garbage or to charity. I started when he was little and it works. It may sound a bit mean, but I HATE stepping on Legos in bare feet. The toys stay put away when not in use, and he makes sure if there are friends over they help pick up to. I do let unfinished puzzles stay out a little longer so he can finish. Also, we lead by example, my husb and I put our stuff away at the end of the day. And if we are playing with him, we help pick up to. Picking up the toys is NOT and option. If you want them, you will put them away or I will give them to some kid who doesn't have any toys, and would love to have toys to put away. Simple as that.
 
I just wanted to say thanks to everybody for all the great ideas and the support. I also wanted to let everyone know of a website I visited and I'm going to give it a try. It's called the House Fairy. ( www.housefairy.org ) The idea is that your kids will clean their rooms (themselves!!) and once a week, or as often as you want, the House Fairy come to inspect their rooms. You can tell she was there because she leaves a little fairy dust (glitter) behind. If the room was clean and tidy, she leaves a little surprise behind. (It can be as small as a pack of gum, a new pen, or whatever your kids like). She has videos on her site for the kids to watch, to explain who she is, what happens, etc. I'll let you know how it goes!

Thanks again to everyone for the great ideas, I'm definitely going to use some of them!

Tricia
 
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