Does your child reluctantly clean up toys after playing? Keeping things tidy is one of the most important habits a child should learn. The sooner a child learns to take responsibility for the mess left behind, the sooner they will develop good habits useful later in life. How can you encourage your child to clean up after themselves and at the same time show them that an unpleasant duty can turn into great fun?

Proper organization

To make cleaning easier and more interesting, organize the space properly. A good idea is to buy toy boxes where children can put their things away. It’s best if the child knows where each item belongs – labeling the boxes or marking them with pictures is a good way to distinguish what goes where. This can also be a good opportunity to practice reading and writing.

Lead by example

Children, especially at a young age, learn a lot by imitating. If you want your children to develop good habits, set the right example. Explain why cleaning is important, e.g. “so the puzzle pieces don’t get lost,” “so your favorite toy doesn’t get broken,” “so no one trips.” Clean up together with your child, dividing tasks between you. Point out specific places where toys should go: “Put the blocks in the red box, and place the teddy bears on the windowsill.”

Make cleaning playful

Try to make cleaning fun so that the child associates it positively. During cleanup, you can play races to see who cleans up faster or set rules like, “Now we’re cleaning only the yellow toys.”

Give advance notice

Try to warn your child a few minutes before the end of playtime that it’s almost time to clean up. Let the child know that playtime is coming to an end. Don’t interrupt their fun suddenly or abruptly.

Make cleaning a routine

Teach your child to clean daily. Tidy up before bedtime, before lunch, or before leaving the house. Repeating this activity regularly will quickly make cleaning a natural habit.

Encourage and praise

Promise your child small rewards after cleaning, such as going to the playground or watching a cartoon together. A great idea is a sticker board where the child earns stickers for completed tasks. Praise your child for cleaning up well and point out how nice the tidy room looks. Let your child know you are proud and that they can feel proud of their work.