How to Encourage Your Child to Clean Up

I have talked with many parents who tell me they are always faced with the challenge in getting their children to clean up their room. One parent mentioned they feel so frustrated that they finally end up picking the clothes and toys up themselves. Another parent said they have no energy after a long battle of war with their child so their child's room ends up remaining messy. I knew the parents I was talking to needed some healthy education when it came to getting their child to clean up their room. I gave them some suggestions that would encourage their child to clean up their room without having to go through the tug a war. The following are some suggestions as how you can encourage your child to clean up their room. Please select the tips given that would be developmental appropriate for the age of your child.

Talk to your child about the importance of cleaning up. Encouraging your child to clean up should occur from the time your child can walk. When your child is educated about the importance of clean up it becomes a part of their value system. This type of education will just make it easier for them and you in the long run.

Play a clean up game. For example, I encourage my two-year-old child to clean up by telling him to put his toys away before the song is over. He then rushes to put his toys away. He has fun playing the race game.

Sing a song about cleaning up. My child's favorite song to sing about clean up goes something like this, "Clean up clean up everybody everywhere. Clean up clean up everybody do your share." You can use this same song or make up one of your own. There are also CD's for children that have a clean up song that your child can sing with as they clean.

Give your child lots of positive verbal feedback. Giving them positive feedback will only motivate them to clean up. Some things you can say is, "I love the way you are putting away your clothes." "You are doing such a wonderful job in cleaning up your toys. I am proud of you."