Clean Up Time

How can I help my 16 month old with cleaning up her toys (not doing it
for her)? She used to do a good job with it, but now at the mere mention of cleaning up she runs and hides under the kitchen table!

Try not to mention it. No, really. Rather than setting yourself up for a battle by mentioning cleaning, you may want to try a new tactic. For example, "Let's find all the puzzle pieces and put them in this bag. Good job! Now, let's get all the animals and put them in a box, etc..." The more fun you can make it, the easier it may be as well. Finding ways to turn cleaning into fun time can be simple when dealing with toddlers if you simply think like a toddler. Look for things that are the same color to pick up and put away. If you are cleaning stuffed animals or other soft objects, make a game out of tossing them in a box or laundry basket. Crank up the tunes and dance the things back into place. As your child gets a little older, you can also point out the fact that toys left strewn about often become lost or broken toys.

Try to take a step back and look at the logisitics of the situation. Are too many toys allowed out before clean up begins, making the task overwhelming? Are the toys kept in containers and locations easily accessible for a toddler? Can they be put away toddler fashion or are your expectations a little too high - do you want the books upright on the shelf, facing the same direction or is on the shelf good enough? Too many toys, streamline em. Set up some bins so the toddler can put the toys away herself, get rid of high bookshelves she can't reach. Piles are fine for a toddler, so let her pile the stuff in the area where you want. Eventually, she will be able to be neater, but for now, piles work.

When you find ways to enjoy the clean up time together as much as the mess up time, it makes it quick, easy and fun for everyone. Besides, a child who associates fun with keeping things orderly is a child who is likely to appreciate and enjoy a clean environment for years to come