How to Teach A Child to Pick Up After Themselves
Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to pick up after your child all the time? Between dirty clothes, clean clothes and toys scattered all about it gets back breaking when you’re the only one picking up things from the floor. Teach your child to pick up after themselves with these basic steps applied repetitively and give yourself a break.
Instructions
Your child must know that there is a place for everything in the house and when he is done using the item he needs to return the item to their place. Teaching a child to do this will keep things in order somewhat, not to mention it teaches him to be a neat person. If your child likes to just leave his clothes all over the place and let them sit there until they start crawling on their own, don't do something for him until he picks up his clothes. For instance, he asks you for breakfast but you notice that his pajamas are on the floor by his bed. Tell him you'll be happy to start breakfast as soon as he puts his clothes in the laundry. If your child is watching television or outside playing and you notice something was misplaced by him, call him in to take care of it. It is quicker for us to just do it ourselves but that won’t teach our child anything. By making him stop his fun activity to do what he should have already done, he will be irritated at having to stop and if done enough, he will eventually learn to do it the first time before being asked. Make cleaning a part of your child’s life. Tell your child to make his bed, put his clothes away, put his dirty dishes into the dish washer and help out in general all around the house. By making him do his part to pick up around the house it will become second nature for him to pick up his own mess. Don’t forget to praise your child and to reward him when due. Children should pick up after themselves regardless of reward but a little praise and possibly a small weekly allowance will encourage your child to continually pick up after himself.
