Am I expecting too much - tidying up toys at the end of the day

[RememberToPlaywiththeKids]

DD is 3.9 and DS is 2.

For a few months now, I have expected them to tidy up the toys they have spent the day strewing all over the kitchen floor. I help them by doing it with them and by asking them to do x then y then z like, all cars here, all tea set stuff there etc.

they are perfectly capable of doing it but I end up so frustrated with them and some times yelling because they keep stopping and then start playing with it all again.

Are they just too young or do I just keep this battle going? I want it to become habit which I hope will reduce arguments about it all when tey're older.

[Meglet]

Mine are nearly the same age and I try and get them to do it but a lot of the time they ignore me and muck about. Even turning off cbeebies doesn't help.

Bribery with one white chocolate button works though, sometimes they will even take clean laundry upstairs for me.

However I ask them every night and I think they are getting a little better at it so we might have cracked it by school age.

They do it properly at nursery .

[FrameyMcFrame]

I think they're a bit too young to stay focussed on the task in hand!
But no harm in starting to encourage them in the right direction as long as it doesn't become a daily battle!

[FloraFinching]

yeah, bribery here too.
We have a ten minute tidy just before 6.
No tidy=no telly.

It works 99 times out of 100.

[mousymouse]

it is part of the bedtime routine here for ds (3.9). but he doesn*t do it on his own. dh clears up the toys together with him.

[Curlybrunette]

My boys (4 and nearly 3) help tidy up. Sometimes they just do it, sometimes we make it a game, so I'll say lets see who can pick the most toys up, and sometimes they've made a bloody mess and won't pick it up so I shout like a crazy women

I think the earlier you make it a habit the better. As you said they do it at nursery so why not do it at home.

x

[roseability]

My boy is 4 and I expect him to help tidy up most nights. I give him one task that is appropiate for his age and concentration. For example he has a box full of dinky cars and that is usually his task, to put them in the box. If the cars are spread out a lot I might push them into a pile, which I know defeats the purpose somewhat but for me it is more just getting the concept of helping even if it is a small task. It also just becomes part of the routine and as he gets older I may expect him to tidy up more of his toys. If a lot of toys are out I will do the rest and just leave him his own task to concentrate on. He actually turns it into a little game a lot of nights.

He gets a little bit of pocket money most weekends. If he helps with chores at all he may get 20p extra e.g. he sometimes helps me carry recycling to the box, or hands me pegs to hang up the washing. Sometimes he pulls up a chair and helps me prepare the meal. Again it is very simple, age appropiate stuff like putting chopped carrots in the pan. I just feel it all helps to teach how to be part of the team and how to earn and handle money.

[pigleychez]

Toys away before going up to bed has been part of my DD's bedtime routine since about a yr. At 14mths was happily toddling back and forth putting each toy away in the toybox when passed to her.
Now shes just turned 2 and mostly just does it when we say tidy up time for bath. We often get told NO, but thats whilst she in the process of doing it anyway She currently says No for almost anything anyway before even realising what it is im saying.ie Would you like a biscuit!

Anyway I think shes had it drummed into her from such an early age that she knows no different. She also now (mostly) puts one toy away before she gets the next one out. Anal Mummy I guess!

[RememberToPlaywiththeKids]

Your replies make me feel so much better - I was wondering if I was being a victorian mother!

We had a successful tidy up this evening and all because I stayed calm! I don't know why i get so frazzled!!