Thank you Get Lean While You Clean for the picture!

Most sources that I have read say that you cannot really expect a child to pick up all by themselves until they are five years old! However, this does take training and practice, lots and lots of practice! Now I will admit right away, my kids do not always pick up like I would like! Here is how I would suggest teaching kids how to pick up!

• make labels and adhere them to the tub/basket/etc that they go in (I use big address labels and print pictures and words off of the computer)
• take the tub/basket/etc out and ask your child what goes in it (they should be able to tell by the picture)
• have them find and put all of the toys that go in the tub/basket in the tub/basket (make it a game, see how many they can pick up in a minute, see who can pick up the most the fastest, etc!  great counting practice also!!)
• repeat the above step until all the toys are picked up!

You will need to do this step by step and assist your child.  The younger your child is, the more assistance they will need!  When they are five (and have been practicing with you for a LONG time), they should be able to do it themselves.  If they decide to do it incorrectly, we have been known to dump the tubs out and ask that it be done correctly.  (I will never forget the look on my son’s face the first time we did this!  He threw a fit, but as we left we said, “Boys with correctly clean rooms and happy faces may join us for some TV time!”  Now all I have to do is ask what happens if he doesn’t clean up correctly!

Hanging bags like these are good!  We have a closet organizer in our closets, so these hang very well on the lower rod!

What are your tips for teaching kids how to pick up their toys?