Do children clean up without you telling them?

Question

What parenting advice do you have so children tidy up?

Answer

My best bit of advice is to teach them from the time they are little to clean up one activity before moving on to another. So for example if we are playing with blocks, they have to be put up before we get the cars out. It will take time, guidance, and repetition but it ensures that there is just one mess at any time.

Answer

Just lead by example my son is 2.5 and while he doesn’t always bc he’s still young and I don’t pressure him he’s very tidy and polite. He knows trash goes in the trash and when he makes a mess he knows we clean it up rather he goes and gets a towel to fry the spill or whatever it may be.

Answer

Daughter is 3 and its hit or miss still. Sometimes when she's done eating she'll take her dishes to the sink. Sometimes if she has or sees trash, she'll take it to the trash can. If she feels like her toys are making a mess, she'll say "look at this mess!" And then start putting them back in her playroom. Occasionally she'll take her shoes off and put them back where they go. Just depends. Other times we have to prompt her or remind her. Or she'll see us cleaning and want to help. If she accidentally spills she's very good about wiping it up without reminding. Or if we come in from outside and she sees a bunch of dirt on the floor, she'll grab the broom. Once in awhile she wants to vacuum by herself. Which I let her even if it doesnt need to be done because it's not hurting anything. She really likes taking the steam mop from me when I'm sanitizing the kitchen floor. She doesn't do it right to actually sanitize the floors but she enjoys pushing it around.

Answer

My oldest is 4 and it’s still a lot of reminders. Sometimes she cleans on her own without me needing to say anything, other times I have to remind her 20 times. When she was younger, and with my almost 2yo, it helps when I help them clean. I’ll tell them they helped make the mess so they have to help clean it up. I think they like seeing that cleaning is a grown up thing to do.

Answer

I always tell my 2 year old and 1.5 year old that right before bathtime we tidy her room. And sometimes I'll ask her to help me clean the living room. Occasionally she'll just randomly pick up all of her toys and put them away without any prompting. It's definitely all about repetition and getting them in the habit.

Do children clean up without you telling them?

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