I get it. You're tired and you are in no mood to sing, "clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere.." why not just clean up later after your little goes to bed?
This is what my son's playroom looks like after a long day of choo choo building and cookie making in his play kitchen. It is a wreck and there are toys everywhere!
Toys that we worked hard to get for him, or toys that our good family friends gifted him for Easter last year. Toys that his Nonnie and Grandma brought all the way from Ohio to watch him open. They are his possessions. Yes, they are plastic, but they are his.
Toys that we worked hard to get for him, or toys that our good family friends gifted him for Easter last year. Toys that his Nonnie and Grandma brought all the way from Ohio to watch him open. They are his possessions. Yes, they are plastic, but they are his.
Remember, when you were searching for that perfect house. All you kept saying was "open floor concept, please!" Then you had kids and you realized, open floor concept means their toys will be all over that wonderful open floor. Ya, all of sudden you wish you had doors and ways to lock the the mess in. The play room is the first thing people see when they come over and quite frankly by the time I sit down at the end of the day, I don't want to see it.
I also need some cleanliness to survive. And let's be honest, anything that makes me sane is good for everybody, especially the person who spends 24-7 with me! When I am in cleaning mode and deep cleaning the kitchen, he asks for his cleaner bottle and gets busy cleaning his tractor. Or when I whip out the sweeper, he gets his play Dyson and gets to work. He is learning so much, even the smallest things can teach him lessons.
I feel that raising kids that know the importance of taking care of their stuff is vital in making sure they are respectful and appreciate everything they own. So, take the few minutes, listen to the whining and make it fun by singing Barney on repeat. Your future adult child will thank you for it one day.
Happy cleaning,
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I also need some cleanliness to survive. And let's be honest, anything that makes me sane is good for everybody, especially the person who spends 24-7 with me! When I am in cleaning mode and deep cleaning the kitchen, he asks for his cleaner bottle and gets busy cleaning his tractor. Or when I whip out the sweeper, he gets his play Dyson and gets to work. He is learning so much, even the smallest things can teach him lessons.
I feel that raising kids that know the importance of taking care of their stuff is vital in making sure they are respectful and appreciate everything they own. So, take the few minutes, listen to the whining and make it fun by singing Barney on repeat. Your future adult child will thank you for it one day.
Happy cleaning,
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I love mini cleaning toys! My girl is sweeping like mad now. I need a little vacuum. Teaching our kids to take care of our things is so important.
ReplyDeleteThey are genius! And I love that he loves to be right by me as I clean lol!
DeleteMy kids need to be better and cleaning up, when I'm top of them they will do it, but sometimes it's just easier for me to do it...although not the best example, haha. One day, I'll be on top of it all!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, and there are many nights that I end up doing the majority of it. But, hey the days where he does clean up are my wins!!
DeleteI could not agree with you more! I was taught from a young age to clean up after myself and it is a quality that has truly stuck with me. And now as I raise up my kids I have instilled in them the same thing. I now give my three year old the opportunity to vacuum in the kitchen and she thinks its the bee's knee's (I'll keep letting her think that for as long as I can too). Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteIt makes SUCH a difference. I can only imagine what his room will look like when he is older, so I am trying to get him the cleaning gene now lol! Thanks for reading!
DeleteExactly the same reason I make my one year old help wipe up any spills she makes, which is a ton. Dog water is a big temptation at our house!
ReplyDeleteYesssss!!!! It's so important to teach cleaning/caring for your things to kids. And kids love cleaning/helping mama! PS- I have an open floor plan, too! Love it because I can see the kids while I do other "things" but yes- my house looks like a giant playroom! Come link up! http://www.akreativewhim.com/potty-training-dropout/
ReplyDeleteHaha! As a real estate agent (without kids of my own) I do work with a lot of buyers who love open concept homes but they do not think of the toys being everywhere in plain site! I will have to remind them of that and maybe open their eyes to traditional floor plans. I agree it is never too early to instill in your children to clean up once they are done.
ReplyDeleteAs young home buyers, we did not even think about the future and the messes that would ensue haha!
DeleteI SO agree with you! Yes, a messy house is a happy house, but so is a clean one. I love having Harper help me clean up her toys. Great post :)
ReplyDeleteAmen!
DeleteI SO agree with you about the open concept house and the toddler toys everywhere! As a music teacher I love that you sing while you pick up! YAY! It certainly makes it a little more fun (at least for the child). :)
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, I LOVE barney and his songs haha! So just as much for me as it is for Luke. Thanks for reading!
Deletei dont have any kids of my own, but we were always expected to pick up and put away anything that we played with or used :)
ReplyDeleteWe only have one little drawer of toys in our living area. Other toys have to stay in their homes! I try to make it easy for them to pick up. Books on the shelf, food in the toy kitchen, princesses in the box next to the castle. Boom. Instead of singing I play a cleanup song on my phone. It is also their timer. When they aren't cooperating I tell them anything left out at the end of the song will go away and they can start earning it back the next day. SO HELPFUL! It really is worth the extra trouble ... my almost-4-year-old now (without being taught or told) makes both their beds in the morning because she sees the benefit of having things "nice and clean" (as she puts it).
ReplyDeleteGreat post- and I totally agree. It's been important to me to keep order in our house since the day I brought my little one home. It's not organized all day everyday, and there are times when it looks like a toy explosion took place; but by the end of the day it is nice and tidy for the next day. I want her to know that we respect her toys, this home we are lucky to live in, and takes responsibility for herself as she grows up! xx
ReplyDeleteYes!! It is so important for them to clean their toys (of course some days I am guilty of just doing it to get things done quickly).
ReplyDeleteI wish I would of started sooner. I have learned that he does best by showing, and counting. I have to help and he will do most of it
ReplyDeleteYes I love this post. we make our kids pick up after themselves too! better to start no rather than later
ReplyDelete