How to get toddler to pickup toys?

[poguelife]

Hello folks,
my first post here... looking for specific direction in starting my 2.5 year old to get her to pick up her toys. I try to point out things that she abandons on the floor the moment her short and fickle attention span catches sight of something else that interests her. Is there a fun, game like way that learning to put away toys or put a toy away before starting to play with a different one can be done?
Suggestions or direction to articles, references would be appreciated.
I'm sure there are no new parenting questions under the sun, so I apologize if this particular topic was recently asked, like I said I'm new here. I did a search but didn't get anything.
Thanks!

[MommaC]

Every kid is different, so what motivates one may not motivate another. You know your child best, so you'll probably make the best choice. The most important thing you can do is make it a part of your routine. We play, we pick up, we eat lunch (etc.). If it's just what you do, there's less argument about it. I know some people sing a song to signal clean up time instead of just giving the verbal command. Some people set a timer to see how fast they can get it done. You could race her (whoever can fill up her toy bin the fastest). Definitely do it WITH her at least in the beginning so she sees what to do and so she doesn't feel like it's punishment or drudgery. Set a good example by not complaining when YOU need to clean.

[tskeehn010]

My son is two and a half and we are still trying to work on it. Sometimes we can get into a moment where when it is time to clean up, I will show him what to so and he will copy me, when he does we cheer for him and encourage him to keep it up. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

[ladyc]

My eldest daughter is also 2 and 1/2 so I feel your pain and I'm here to give you hope-our daughter picks up her toys and even has started to initiate picking up at appropriate times. First, I had to relax a little bit and increase my tolerance of mess. Next we set toy pick-up times throughout the day. We don't always put something away before we move on to the next thing which now is ok with me. We pick up before certain times such as before meals, before going out, before naptime, before bathtime and of course before guests. We started doing it as a game (we started it at about 1 year old) then when that got old (for our daughter) we did the 'you're too little to do it yourself' and it was magically done. On bad days I explain that we are doing it together and if not any toys left on the floor are going to the garbage. Gotta say, that always works. And now the kicker is that when I'm bathing the younger kid, my eldest picks up the toys without being told. I know! I'm amazed too. We'll see how long it lasts. Good luck.

[proud mom]

Hi, i also have a 2 and 1/2 year old son and i am telling you it is a hassel to get him to clean up at times. Sometimes he does it on his own but other times man its nerve recking so you are not alone.

[wright1212]

OK several ideas
1. It is easier to get her to pick it up right away. It is overwhelming to ask them to clean the whole room at the end of play time. So for ex if she is done with blocks and wants dolls, just sit down with her and say "lets clean up blocks so we can play with babies" (proceed to demonstrate, ask her to pick up one, and continue) continue with "we will get the dolls out, should we feed them or sing, I wonder if the baby is tired?" Just talk about the next play thing while cleaning.
2. SING "clean up clean up, everybody, everywhere, clean up clean up, everybody do your share." They have several CD's with these songs.
3. Explain when you pick up ANYTHING its so you have room to play other things too.
4. Dont expect it to happen alone, By age 3 you can just supervise cleaning or say clean your room so we can go to the park, just know it wont be good.
5. By age 4 it should be independent but still not good. My girl things picking up her clothes are putting them all in the same drawer. If I sit in her room and fold her clothes I can coordinate her picking up her whole room. THEN she loves to dust, wipe, vacuum-she takes alot of pride in it.

[ladyamalthea81]

Hi, I have a 2 year old son. I tell him that his toys are sleepy and they want to go night night. he loves to put his toys to sleep. He races to his toys, picks up a toy and says night night car and drops it in the toy box. If he forgets one I'll say what about your truck it's tiard too and he gladly puts it in the box. I was suprized to find that he knew where all his toys spent the night. He will do it at any time during the day not just at night. it,s fun for him. Now if only i could tell him that he is tiard and needs to go night night. ha ha

[tatianaruiz]

I make it a game with my 2 yr old to see who can put more toys in the toy box normally he love it to play that game.

[beth277]

Just read an article that discusses this issue, except in this particular case the parents can't agree on the best way to discipline the kids. http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2...ents-disagree/

[big-mouth-burgher]

We used to clean up to a song that was only used at clean up time, which was about 4 times a day (before lunch, before nap, before dinner, and before bed). My boys knew when they heard that song that it was time to clean up and move on to something else. The quicker we got toys cleaned up, the quicker they got to move on. I'd also reward them with a sticker for a job well done. Reward charts always worked well with my boys.