| Posted By |
Message |
babydreaming
LIF Adult
Member since 3/07 1130 total posts
Name:
|
Putting away toys - teaching a almost 3 yr old
Okay - this might be a dumb question. How do you teach a 3 year old to put away toys instead of having them tossed around everywhere? When I tell him to put away his toys, he tells me "I can't (as if he is physically unable to". We have tried the helping to teach him but I totally think he cons us to do most of the work. I also thinks he does not do his "clean up" at daycare and has figured out time outs are fine compared to helping clean up. I am so frustrated - any advice?
|
Posted 1/9/11 1:33 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
CrankyPants
I'm cranky
Member since 7/06 18178 total posts
Name:
Mama Cranky
|
Re: Putting away toys - teaching a almost 3 yr old
Usually, before she takes another toy out I ask her to put away the first one. If she doesn't, she can't take out the second toy.
If there are a few strewn about and it's time for clean up, we all clean up. If she doesn't help I warn her that toys will go in time out.
If the TV is on, it goes off if she doesn't clean up.
She is usually pretty good-unless we have other kids over, than it is a crazy house but that's okay.
|
| Posted 1/9/11 2:23 PM |
| |
|
Jen2999
Baby girls & beagles rock!
Member since 8/06 10356 total posts
Name:
Jen
|
Re: Putting away toys - teaching a almost 3 yr old
DD is almost 2 and e sing a "clean up" song.
It is such habit that now before it is time for lunch or something she will say "do clean up" and start doing it herself.
What if you start cleaning the toys up and get him to help you put a few in the toybox or shelf?
|
| Posted 1/9/11 2:28 PM |
| |
|
cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Putting away toys - teaching a almost 3 yr old
Posted by CrankyPants
Usually, before she takes another toy out I ask her to put away the first one. If she doesn't, she can't take out the second toy.
If there are a few strewn about and it's time for clean up, we all clean up. If she doesn't help I warn her that toys will go in time out.
DS is really good about cleaning up, but we started pushing this at a young age--he is 3 now and often I don't even have to ask him to do it, or one reminder is enough. It didn't start out that way though.
I did the things the poster above mentioned. When he was getting started (and even now if he's reluctant), I help him pick up. We make a game of it and he tosses one toy in the box, I toss one in the box, etc. When he was younger we always sang the clean up song too as a signal that it was time to clean up. He got it pretty quickly.
He used to be terrible about pulling toys off the shelves at the toy store. That took leaving the store after warning him that he needed to put soemthing back before he took the next thing. And wow, he got it quickly after doing that.
|
| Posted 1/9/11 4:13 PM |
| |
|
Twstdvenus1
LIF Adolescent
Member since 7/10 777 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Putting away toys - teaching a almost 3 yr old
I had tried the method of singing a clean up song (thanks Laurie Berkner) while cleaning but DD2 learned to manipulate that situation by going slowly leaving me cleaning up the bulk of the mess anyway.
Then we would set a timer and see who can clean up the most toys before the timer went off along with a treat for the winner....well that didnt last long because she would have rather forego the treat and let someone else clean up.
Well...after trying anything and everything people told me...you can call me a mean mommy....but this is what worked for me.....
I told her that if I had to pick up the toys the toys that I pick up dont go back into the toybox they go in the garbage. It took one time and one toy to go into the garbage can for her to realize that I meant business. We never had a problem after that.
(I threw the toy into the recycle can and retrieved it later...hid it...and pulled it out about a month later and put it into the toybox...but with how many toys she has I dont think she ever noticed its return)
|
| Posted 1/9/11 9:45 PM |
| |
|
Kelly9904
Mommy to 2 amazing little boys
Member since 5/05 9306 total posts
Name:
Kelly
|
Re: Putting away toys - teaching a almost 3 yr old
At 2 DS was so happy to help clean up while singing his song etc.
At 3, now, he can't, my arms are full. I will in a few minutes. I am so tired Mommy.
I simply ask him who played with the toy...he responds he did. I tell him to clean it up then. When he comes up with his long list of excuses, I tell him if mommy has to clean it up by herself it will go in the garbage and never come back! I am mean but it works!
He usually tests me but I do the count to 3 thing and at 2 he freaks and runs to help clean up!
|
| Posted 1/9/11 11:23 PM |
| |
|
