I Can Get the Little Ones To Clean Up

CarriesCooking Home Recipe

There was a time when I heard my 3 year old tell me, "But Mommy I like it messy."  Now, she happily helps me clean up and even her 1 year old brother tries to help out.  How did I make this transformation?  Even better, how did I get her to change her attitude in less than a week.  In fact, if I remember correctly it only took 3 days.  I used all the power at my resources.  I used fun, threats and rewards all at once to make this transformation.  

1. Fun - I set a timer for 3 to 4 minutes and told my daughter it is time to clean up.  Then I acted like this was going to be so much fun.  I asked her if she was ready.  I then announce, "Ready, Set, Go!"  And I join in the fun.
2. Threats -  As we are cleaning I remind my daughter, when she gets distracted, that any toys that are not cleaned up by the time the timer goes off go into time out for the day.  This reminds her that it isn't all fun we do have a job to do.  (Then any toys that don't get cleaned up go into a time out basket and at the end of the day, after the kids go to bed, I put the toys back out for play.)  After the first few times doing this I haven't had to put any toys in time out.
3. Rewards - I always do clean up at a transition.  Before snacks, before playing outside, before dinner, before bed are examples.  The reward might be a special snack, or chocolate milk at dinner instead of white.  Or before bath the reward might be bubbles.  How do they earn these rewards?  When everything is cleaned up before the timer goes off.

Having my little ones clean up with me has made keeping my house in better shape so much easier.  By the time both of my kids are in bed, I am ready for bed too.  Trying to do all the pick up on my own after they are in bed, as I was trying to do before, wasn't working.

What do you think?  Are you going to give it a try?  Is there something that you do that works?  I would love to hear about it.  Let me know.