Do you make your 3yo tidy up toys at the end of the day?

[BotBotticelli]

DS1 is 3.6yo and we have a 10 month old baby as well. By the end of the day there are toys everywhere downstairs.

Most days I end up spending g a good 10 mins cleaning them all up once both boys are in bed.

Sometimes I make a game of "who can tidy away the most toys" before bathtime but most nights I just can't face it because DS1 is an overtired bonkers nightmare rather worn out by 6.15om and I am just focused on wrestling then both upstairs into the bath and bed so then I can lie on the sofa before the inevitable night wakings start 😫

Am I setting a terrible precedent of nobody round here picking up after themselves? Is this the right age to start insisting on it?

[Stylingwax]

My 3.2 does generally. I'm not totally militant about it but he knows that if he plays with something it goes away.

[JuliannalovesCliveBixby]

My 2 year old does. It's a game to him

[cornishglos]

I make ours tidy up as we go along.

[Believeitornot]

I tidy with the children.

Because I'm trying to teach them to tidy up for each other as opposed to just tidy up after themselves. My dh came from a family like that and he's very selfish as a result. He won't naturally tidy up family mess - he's just used to doing his own mess. So won't help out if someone needs it.

[UptownFunk00]

3.2yo DD tends to. As DH is blind it really makes sense for her to tidy up when she's finished using something but obviously sometimes she doesn't and DH steps on her cars or pens or I do

[Thingvellir]

I've always encouraged my DC to help from about age 3 - with varying degrees of success. I also have a 3 toy rule - once you have 3 toys out, you cant get another one out until you've put one away, which is designed to avoid the total carnage effect at the end of the day.

I dont think you can ask a 3 year old to tidy by themselves as its a bit overwhelming, but you can start training them to help you tidy up, before an activity they want like 'lets help each other put the toys away before tea/turning the TV on' etc

My DC are now 8 and 5, the 8 year old is capable of tidying up by herself, the 5 year old is ok, and he also has to help tidy up at school.

disclaimer: I am a bit of a tidy freak...

[Stoodonlegoagain]

I do with my 20 month old, I say 'right it's tidy up time' every evening before bath time and she will take her clothes to the wash basket, rubbish to the bin and toys in the toy box!

[DragonflyInn]

I'm trying to get my 5yo to be better at tidying away - wish I'd started it at a far younger age as it can be a bit of a battle at the moment. So yes, I'd say do it!

[Blankiefan]

We go through stages. Sometimes we can engage 2.5yo dd in some tidying up, sometimes she refuses. I'd love to stand firm but she's a toddler and I'm picking my battles / rewarding good behaviour.

Life's too short to get worked up about stuff like that I'm a tidy freak and de-clutter every evening

[hereandnowtoday]

Yes always, we tidy together at the end of the day (and probably around lunchtime if we're home all day too). My DC get tv before bed - no tidying, no tv.

[BotBotticelli]

Balls! Sounds like I have missed the boat on this one. Better start getting him to tidy up with me every evening then.

It just seems like one battle too far most evenings thoigh 😨

[KatyN]

Does he go to nursery?? My son told me that tidy uptime at nursery started when the teacher shook the tambourine. I bought one the next day and we have the same rule at home.