datenero.blogg.se - I like to tidy up

We need to show our children that we value our things and our environment. It's difficult to expect our children to clean up if we don't (to some level) clean up after ourselves. At home children need to know what the boundaries are, if they need to clean up after each activity, at the end of the day, or if they can leave their things out, what needs to be packed up? As as example… in our home our children are allowed leave their blocks out, they often have large creations they want to work on over many days, however the blocks need to be kept on a (large) rug, the rug defines the area and the children know this. The children very clearly know what is expected and this is why they pick up after themselves at school. The school environment is a good example of this. Children need to know what our expectations are - so they can meet them. Set the child up for success, make it easy for them to clean up!

Children need to know where their toys go, where to put them. If a room or space is cluttered, if the child is overwhelmed with toys, there is little hope of them cleaning up and putting away.

Provide an orderly, beautiful environment to begin with.

So how can we help and encourage our children to clean up after themselves? We can help our children by teaching these skills when they are young. Tidying, sorting and organising are really good life skills to have. You may not expect a child of three to take responsibility for their mess or area but what about at five, six, seven, at eight? At some stage we need to accept that our children will benefit from taking responsibility for their actions. In our home the child's responsibilities increases with their age. Children can begin to have ownership over their own areas such as their bedroom, especially as the child ages.

If parents always clean up after the child, the child only learns that they can make a mess and it will magically be clean the next day. However continually picking up after your child, especially in older children 3 years on, does not teach natural consequences. Not packing up also teaches natural consequences, if we don't pick up, the place is a mess and there is no clear space.

This is so key! If we pick up our toys our spaces are in order, we have clean work and play areas and we can find our things. We work better when we can find our things! Ever had a child get frustrated because they can't find a toy and need it now? We like to know where our toys are and where to find them. We respect that others live and work in our environments. We look after our spaces and ensure they are functional (a bedroom isn't functional if we can't move around it). We respect the people we share our environment with.

We value our environment and our home.

When toys are put away they are less likely to get lost or broken or damaged (or stepped on!). When we respect something we take care of it.

We value and respect our materials and our toys.

My kids absolutely make crazy and wild messes but cleaning up and putting away is a priority. Do your kids pick up and put away their toys? Mine do… most of the time.