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TryingMyBest
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| Posted: Nov 25 2013 at 9:57pm | IP Logged
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Any words of wisdom about how to get your children to keep a tidy room? It drives me crazy that DD (4 years old) knew very well how to pick up her works when she was at the Montessori school but seems incapable of picking up anything in her own room. I've tried taking things away, e.g. putting a doll that I stepped over 3 times in one day up in the closet for a week, but DD seemed to think it was a game.
Truth be told, I end up picking up DD's room every evening because I can't stand going to bed with it in shambles. But I know I'm sending the wrong message to DD.
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jawgee
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| Posted: Nov 26 2013 at 7:05am | IP Logged
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Ugh. That's a struggle here, too.
What works best, when I am consistent, is when I enforce our rule that there is no breakfast in the morning until rooms are tidied.
That extends to other things, too. No screen time until rooms are tidied, no computer time, etc.
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Pilgrim
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| Posted: Nov 26 2013 at 8:20am | IP Logged
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We do things like no meal until it's done, too. I find with a child that young they do best with small portions being assigned, then another small portion etc,
i.e.
~~"pick up all the dolls and put them (wherever you would have her put them)"
~~"pick up all your clothes and (take them to hamper, lay them neatly on the chair, fold them and put them in the drawer, etc.)". Or if all the clothes is too much for a given child, we do just shirts, then just pants, then pajamas.
~~ "Okay, good, now pick up all your books and put them on the bookshelf"
Etc., etc., etc.
This age is a more intensive age for teaching these tasks. You have to follow through more thoroughly, and it takes more up front guidance. At her Montessori school she probably didn't have the same free reign on everything in the room like a child does at home. It's more structured times in a school, so a little less free time to have at anything and everything. Thus, the Little Ones get out a lot more in their bedroom, playroom, etc., and then can feel overwhelmed at the task of putting it all away. Besides, it's more fun usually to put things away for a teacher, or for some reason they feel like they want to more, as they don't want to look bad.
A great thing my mother taught us when we were little was to only get out one kind of toy at a time, then you *put it away* before you can get anything different out. I *try* to instill this in our kiddos, sometimes with more consistency than others. 
We pick a time of day usually for room cleaning. Here it is right after breakfast. They also are assigned to cleaning their rooms if they seem like they need something to do( i.e. whiny, rambunctious, pestering others, etc.).
Hope something here helps!
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Nov 26 2013 at 9:07am | IP Logged
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good luck! One can teach her now for sure - but in 10 years - forget it!!
Barb
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Kathryn
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| Posted: Nov 26 2013 at 9:51am | IP Logged
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The fastest way to get mine to "tidy up" quickly and with relatively great effort is *always* when there's a carrot at the end...a tv show, a craft project or f-o-o-d!   Not everything is exactly where it's supposed to be but the floor, bed and dresser is clear and clothes are usu put away. That's an A in my book. Deeper and neater clean time is reserved when I can help (and that includes even my 2 big kids that are teens).
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Kathryn
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| Posted: Nov 26 2013 at 9:55am | IP Logged
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Oh, and what Pilgrim said applies also...TRYing to get them to clean up before moving to another project/toy etc. keeps them from being overwhelmed at the end with too much stuff. And also providing a guideline (even pics) if she's not reading b/c again, that keeps them from being overwhelmed, kind of like:
1. clothes
2. toys
3. bed
4. dresser
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Erin
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| Posted: Nov 26 2013 at 12:59pm | IP Logged
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Well after trying various methods over the years I've come to the conclusion that the easiest way to deal with my younger children's room/s is to have minimal belongings in there. Hence all they have is beds and clothes. All toys, books etc are out of their rooms.
As they become older they are allowed more, but if they can't keep it clean (a few days mess is my limit) then once again I reduce their belongings. Not tossing but just removing to living areas. (unless of course it is junk)
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Tidy Kids' Rooms?
