I'm really trying to get my toddler to help me clean up his toys at the end of the day. He's already great about putting his bath toys in a basket after tub time. Do you have any tricks I can use to help make it less of a struggle?
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Make it a game! I sing the daycare song at home with my daughter as well as at work. She already knows it off by heart. "Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere. Clean up clean up, everybody do their share." There is also the popular "Time to tidy, tidy up. Everybody tidy, everybody tidy. Toys away, no more play."
Perhaps say something along the lines of "Lets see how fast we can clean up these blocks? Oh, mommy's really fast, are you fast?"
Always make sure to give lots of notice of an upcoming transition. Makes time to put the toys away easier if they know it was coming and had a chance to finish what they were doing. "Five more minutes until tidy time, 3 more minutes etc." even children who can not yet tell time, can understand the concept of the warnings.
Sometimes kids are just overwhelmed and need a specific task. Instead of let's tidy. Break it down, "can you pick up that book?"
Lots and lots of praise, even if it is just one book. Make sure they feel proud of their accomplishment. They will want to hear that praise again.
Definitely a song/game always helps. And having certain places for things - so that he knows where everything is "supposed" to go. Organizing and Tidying at the same time!
I never thought about singing a song (never though of using the kindergarden song lol). Great idea.
I was going to recommend that song as well Andrea! I've been singing it since dd was a toddler, and now she sings it with me during clean up time. I love it! Organization is a key for us as well. She knows exactly where everything goes, so it makes clean up time faster and somewhat easier.