I've been getting real frustrated lately. It is like pulling teeth around here trying to get anyone to clean up. Sure it takes 2.5 seconds to pull off all the toys from the toy shelves, but more like 5 hours of me arguing and yelling and bribing them to clean it back up. Sure it would take a fraction of that time if I just did it myself, but I hate it. I'm already cleaning enough, and it's their responsibility to clean up their own messes. Nothing seems to work. I try and I try to have them take one thing out at a time, but the second I am out of the room washing the dishes or folding laundry, they completely destroy whatever room they are in. I dread Christmas because I know they are going to get a TON more toys.
And it's not just the playroom. I seem to be cleaning off my computer desk and kitchen counters daily. Yet the moment I turn away, they are covered in stuff. Papers, dishes, fruit peels, pencils, hair paraphernalia. You name it, it's there.
Any ideas? Suggestions?
What the playroom should look like when it's clean.
7 comments:
SO THATS WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE BUT WHAT DOES IT REALLY LOK LIKE?
I have some friends who, in the name of teaching their children not to be materialist, have a policy that with every new thing they get, they give something away. Might help with the Christmas dilemma? Tis more blessed to give... :)
Definitely. In fact, we just dropped off three humongous bags of toys at the Salvation Army and gave four bags of toys to a person we know who is expecting her first children.
I don't know what to suggest... but that's a nice playroom!
That's your playroom?? For a second I thought it was a 'Toys R us' aisle.
That's why I only let my daughter play with wood and rocks - I never have to clean lots of stuff up.
Well technically thats one wall of the playroom. It doesn't show another wall of 1/2 shelves, the toy box, two pop up bins, couch with dress up box and train box behind it, doll house, kitchen set or my little pony land.....
Gosh, I don't know. If it is a playroom you can close off to the rest of the house, I'd probably just let it get destroyed and then spend one afternoon a month having a 'clean up' party (and also have them fill up a laundry basket of things to give away).
If the room is seen from your house, the only thing I can suggest is to make things REALLY easy for them to put away. And, it helps to break things into little tiny projects----pick up all the horses or dolls; or 'let's pick up for 10 minutes to the music'; or (my favorite), put it away before you take out something else.
I also end up helping but expect them to do their part too. I think it is really hard for little kids to get a room to look 'mommy perfect' (which is how I want it), so I'm willing to help straighten up and give direction.
It's hard though---we have no dedicated playroom, so my living room, dining room, family room, etc etc ARE the playrooms!
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