How to Get Your Toddler to Clean Up

Toddlers are experts in making a mess in what seems like an instant. If you try to constantly clean up after your toddler, it might drive you crazy. Teaching your toddler to clean up after himself might make for a happier home. However, expecting your toddler to clean up after himself consistently might require some patience on your part, though it is possible.

Instructions

    • 1

      Organize your toddler̵7;s room or playroom so that everything has a proper spot. It might make the cleaning up go faster if your toddler knows where everything goes, according to What to Expect. Use shelves, bins and baskets for organization. If you choose to use a toy box or chest make sure that it has holes, a safe-close hinge and rounded corners to prevent injuries from a slammed lid or a curious toddler who might become trapped inside the toy chest.

    • 2

      Establish a routine to set a time during the day that is clean-up time, such as before dinner or bath. Expecting your toddler to stay on top of a mess all day might become overwhelming, so choose one time during the day for clean up. As he becomes older, you can establish a rule of putting items away as he plays with them.

    • 3

      Help your toddler clean up in the beginning so she learns the right way to put everything away; having you there to help might also make the task less overwhelming for your toddler. Set a good example by having a good attitude and inject some fun into clean-up time with some music or a game.

    • 4

      Allow your toddler to take breaks during clean-up time to avoid overwhelming him, suggests Parenting. If you want all of the cleaning up done at once, consider giving him small tasks at a time like cleaning up everything that is red first followed by everything that is blue.

    • 5

      Set realistic expectations about what your toddler can accomplish. Realistically, she is not going to clean her mess up perfectly the first time you ask or every time after that. Make sure she knows the rules about cleaning up but give her a learning curve by helping her with the task, reminding her of the task and offering encouragement from a nearby location when needed.

    • 6

      Offer a lot of praise for a job well done and explain how much happier her room is when it is clean to help her establish a sense of pride in her surroundings.

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