Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting Aloha Friday
Kailani says:
“In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link here. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new blogging friends!”
OK, so my question is:
How do you get your young child to pick up his/her toys and keep them picked up?
For me, I make it a game – she does well with me ‘directing’ her where to put things, with some protests, but generally speaking we do it as a ‘team’. However, it would be nice to find a way to encourage her to keep them picked up, or to do it herself without me having to tell her where every little thing goes. Sometimes when we tell her to do it, she’ll respond with ‘But I will get too tirrrrrrred!’ That’s when I tell her if she doesn’t do it, I’ll pick them up, but them in a box and get rid of them…after a bout of tears, usually she’ll resignedly help… 😉 I still haven’t figured out the best method for her to pick them up on her own without us nagging her to do so…she has good days and bad days (don’t we all?!) where she’ll do it as soon as I tell/ask her to, but then there are those days where she just doesn’t want to. I’ll be curious to see what methods other parents do to keep the Toy Tornado to a minimum! 😉
Sadly, my kids are too old to try the game thing. They just say they don’t want to play. I am still looking for a solution.
I have tagged you: http://smalltownmommy.com/?p=356
LOL I usually just keep picking up if they keep picking up I just give them all kinds of praise and offer a piece of candy.
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Usually I just have to keep asking and asking and asking, lol. It was easier when they were little.
Getting them picked up was usually done to a fast song and like a race. Keeping them picked up was never mastered.
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Wow Stacy–Nice new look!
Exciting!!!!
Thanks for guest blogging on my site 🙂
Your post is very inspirational.
As far as the toys go, I got to the point with my kids where I’d just throw them out if they didn’t pick them up after being warned. It wasn’t worth the anxiety.
🙂
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my little man is only 17 months old(tomorrow) so we’re not there yet with him. The almost 3 year old and I do the Clean up song and pick up…though KEEPING the mess away isnt as easy!
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If you figure it out, let me know. 🙂
Ooooh, candy…hmmm…my Little Princess is a chocoholic just like her daddy…maybe that could be the ‘carrot’ I dangle in front of her to get her to pick up without a fuss! 😉
LOL! Yes, I have noticed as she’s getting older that there’s more protesting going on… 😉
LOL! Oh good – at least I’m not alone in ‘keeping them picked up’ not being ‘mastered’! Thanks for that! 😀
Thank you very much, Harriet! I was honored to be asked to guest blog for you…glad you liked my submission! 😉
Next year I’m going to go hog-wild with getting rid of a ton of un-needed and no-longer-played-with toys…because then my Little Princess will be in school a full day, vs. the teaser of 3 hours a day! LOL!! She does know, however, that I mean business if I threaten to sell ’em on eBay if she doesn’t pick them up…I’ve gotten rid of a few things that way! 😉
And you’re right – it’s not worth the anxiety!!
I used to be successful with my Little Princess singing the ‘Clean Up’ song…seems she’s gotten wise to that, though…heh, heh! And I’m so glad I’m not alone in KEEPING the mess away…whew! 😉
HAHAHAHA! Absolutely will let you know if I figure it out! 😉
Stacy, it’s been a long time since my kids were very small, but I remember very well doing the “Ten Second Tidy” with my youngest – she used to love The Big Comfy Couch on PBS and cleaning up became a game for her. For at least 10 seconds. ;o)
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Oooh, ‘Ten Second Tidy’ sounds like a great idea! Thanks, Joy, I think I’ll just have to try it! Papa’s coming for a visit in the morning, so we’ll need some tidying up! I’ll take all the 10 seconds I can get in cooperation! 😉 Thanks for the tip!
Hardy har har. Great question. Nothing works in my house. The toys drive me insane and its a daily battle to get them all to their right places!
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ROTFLMAO! Thanks, Melissa – I needed the laugh this morning…especially since I just got done feverishly cleaning up the sea of toys from last night’s Princess Tornado…and her Papa is going to be here in half an hour! LOL! Maybe we should start some sort of ‘Support Group’, you know, like The Toy Trauma Group…or Tornado Children and their Toys…or maybe I should drink my first cup of morning coffee and relax! LOL! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the laugh! 😉
Well keeping them picked up is not a win in our house but to pick up we sing the barney clean up song LOL
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LOL Toni! Savannah’s getting to the point that she’ll exasperatingly say ‘PLEASE don’t sing that song, Mama!’ LOL! But hey, if it ‘annoys’ her into getting the job done, I’ll annoy the heck outta her! (evil grin!) But keeping them picked up…that’s a challenge for sure! 😀