How to Get Your Young Children to Clean Up After Themselves

If you're like most parents you have a hard time getting your little ones to clean up behind themselves. Your small children may not respond well to the "Clean up your mess" order you dish out on a daily basis. They don't mind throwing all of their toys in one big scattered heap on the floor or using every crayon in the box to get that picture just right. The problem is when their all done cleaning up the massive mess is not fun at all that is where you come in. If you've tried the "Clean up, Clean up" song to the point of your own irritation than I have a game you may find not only useful but effective. This game can have many names, feel free to make it your own. I like to call this game "The Employment Line" Pretty big name for such small children you may be thinking but not quite children love to mimic adults. They also love doing grown up things.

Children play grown up games on a daily basis. Little girls play "house" while little boys play "police men" or "fire fighters." The fun thing about being a kid is that their imagination takes them places it allows them to pretend to be grown up without all of the responsiblities of an adult. At the end of day they are still children and can cozy up to their parents with the add security that things will be taken care of for them. This game was designed when I couldn't take the whining, and whimpers from having my little ones clean up their mess. I tried it once and have used ever since with no complaints or defiance from them. They love this game and usually act very grown up which never cease to amaze me. Give it a try with your children and watch all how much easier cleaning up will become. They will soon beg to get a job.

The game will work on children ranging in age from 2yrs to 12 or even 13 years old. It requires a bucket of treats filled with game cards, candy, small toys, jacks, jump ropes, for smaller children and cheap hand held games or educational games for older kids. You will also need a note pad, a pen and tons of toy money. The biggest neccessity you will need and this goes without compromise, a ton of patience and a watchful eye. You will learn so much about your children's personalities and also help them develop neccessary life skills. On a note pad write down a list of the things you see that needs to be done around the designated work site. For example Trash detail, toy cleanup, dirty clothes detail, shoe cleanup, etc. If you have more than one child have them each get in the employment line. Have them give you there name and age, write the information down next to their job. They are only responsible for that job and make sure you tell them how much the job pays.

If it is a big job feel free to break it down by allowing them to be "done for the day" which really means taking a quick break to get paid. Having them stand in the line to receive their paycheck will put smiles on every ones face when they realize that their toy money will buy them real stuff. Watch as your children become excited to spend their money they will want to continue work for the reward they receive at the end of an "honest days work." Have them clean up until the job is done encourage them to save their earnings to add to the next days wages. Children like this game so much they forget that they are cleaning up a huge mess that they made. It is also a good way for you to see what types of behaviors your children practice, which helps you see you're kids personality traits. Remember to have fun with it and practice patience with smaller children. You may be amazed at how much you learn from watching your little replicas.