Trying To Get Them In A Routine

Goodluck with that! My boys are 10 and 5, and I still have trouble having them clean after themselves. There are days that they do remember, but most of the time, they forget. It usually ends up me getting angry, and frustrated before they clean up. And when they see me already stressed out, then they remember that they have to clean up.

i reckon a wee sing song! and whoever sings the best during the sing song, gets a gold star on their star chart :) we always got rewards to the point my sister and i were actually competeing over who was doing a better job!! :)

I don't recall if I know the ages of your children, but when mine were little, (preschool-early elementary age) I'd put on some fun lively music, (pick out a CD that you only play for pick up)and that will get them motivated and when they head that music, they will know what time it is.. As they get older, I am sorry, but it gets harder..They are becoming more independent and don't want to work..This is where charts work and lists of what needs to be done daily. I also have a list of age appropriate chores, this is something I wish I had with my older kids, because now when my 9 y/o says he is too young to do dishes, I show him the list and say, "No you are not!!"

I understand as a mom it can be hard to get kids to cleanup, but if the kids are below 5 honestly they don't have any interest in cleaning up. But after that age you have to lay down the law by threatening time-outs if they don't cleanup after themeselves. So I'd suggest creating a chart on the fridge where they get a sticker after cleaning up, and once they reach so many you take them out to get a new toy or whatever your kids may like. Iv'e seen my aunts kids do a system like this while going through potty training and it worked well. But if by young you meant the kids were 6-8 this system may not work, be'ing stickers aren't to appealable to an 8 year old.

As I can recall, my kids started cleaning up there things at the age of 3 yrs old by doing it by example, then they soon follow it. At first do it with there toys, just make sure they have one huge containers for their toys so that after playing they will learn how to return it back. Just keep on doing it every after playing and as the years go by they will be used to it. Then eventually that routine will also be done in school.

My mom bribes me to clean my room . She offers me some extra money to clean my room sometimes.

Besides the clean up song that we used at school, I would do it along with them ...at first. If it was routine chores, I made a planner which had each child's names and the chores that they had to do each day. Once they did it, they would put a tick in the column. At the end of the week if they did all their chores, they would get a treat. When we started, I would ignore when they didn't do all their chores. I might remind but not nag them if they didn't.Slowly, they got into the habit of doing it and I stopped the treats. As my older son got old enough, I told him what he needed to do and he made his own routine. When they make their own routine, they tend to stick to it.

I showed them by example. I do the tidying and cleaning up everyday and keep every thing in their proper places. When they saw what I did, they will do likewise without being asked. Slowly they cultivate the habit of keeping their toys after playing and when they are bigger I assigned them to do the heavier chores like sweeping and mopping the floors or even washing the plates. But ofcourse I have to promise something like bringing them for shopping during the weekends if they have done their household duties without fail.

I need to know this as well. I have been working with my four year old and let me just say it hasn't been fun for her or me, LOL. I am going to have to check out the rest of this discussion to see what other my Lotters had to say. Thanks for posting this one.

Oh yes it is really difficult. I have two children but they are twins and I was easier because one does what it does and others. I think you just have to show them what you parvie and they follow you and then give them something as a reward. For example, what love, or some similar toys with which to deal. At least this is one of the things they love and which I do for my children. Have a nice day and success.

My kids are the ages of 8 and 9.They have a routine everyday to help out with the houssehold cleaning.They get a small allowence at the end of each weak.I turn on music when we are working and that also helps as we sing along with the radio.