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Original poster

Do your 7 year olds tidy up after themselves?

23 replies

mumofone25 · 28/04/2019 09:33

My 7 year old DD has a playroom and it does end up in a mess. My DP is forever commenting and moaning about the mess in the playroom! To me it’s not a problem as I don’t mind tidying it up myself and DD does help. So just wondering do your DC of the same age tidy up? Thanks!

OP posts:
BiscuitDrama · 28/04/2019 09:35

Only with a struggle and if I ask and help!

SpinningDizzy · 28/04/2019 09:37

Depends on her mood. Sometimes I have to ask, sometimes I have to bribe, sometimes she does it off her own back.

isittheholidaysyet · 28/04/2019 09:37

With a lot of help....

Put this in this box...put that in that drawer...etc.

(And a lot of tantrumming...It's not faaaiirr...why do I have to do everything?)

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iAteAllThePies86 · 28/04/2019 09:38

My ds7 loves tidying up :/ sometimes he needs a gentle reminder but once he's into it he takes real pride in 'organising his things'. Try and make it into a fun thing and lots of praise about how tidy her space is

ipswichwitch · 28/04/2019 09:39

Mine does when asked (sometimes repeatedly but we get there!) He doesn’t always put things back where he got them from, but he’s learned not to whinge at me about it if he then can’t find it again!

Original poster
mumofone25 · 28/04/2019 10:00

I do tell him that the majority of DC my DDs age don’t tidy up! He thinks she should and always threatens to no longer have the playroom. It’s such a battle. He seems to think she’s being disrespectful. I think he is totally unreasonable.

OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 28/04/2019 10:04

Mine are 6&7 and can tidy with help. Definitely don't do it without prompting. They are learning at this age.

BrokenWing · 28/04/2019 10:08

So instead of doing something positive and saying to your dd, let's get your playground tidied I'll help, he moans at both of you, threatens to remove the room and belittles you both by saying she is disrespectful and leaves you feeling somehow it is your fault for allowing it.

What a charmer. She is 7, still at an age where it is reasonable to expect she needs encouraged to tidy up.

SheldonandMama · 28/04/2019 10:15

My DD enjoys a tidy up some of the time. However she definitely needs some help and will get things done if I'm there to make suggestions (while doing some too). We don't have a playroom anymore, as the space was needed for something else. When we did have one it felt permanently untidy. There's nothing more tempting than a tidy playroom to make dcs want to dive in again! A messy space can feel overwhelming.

Fatted · 28/04/2019 10:20

I don't understand why your DH is arsed? Surely the point of a playroom is so that the mess is in a separate room away from everything else?

My eldest is 6. He won't tidy up of his own accord and needs to be reminded to do it.

Original poster
mumofone25 · 28/04/2019 11:30

I know, that’s how I feel. The door is closed and the mess is out of sight. I fail to see why it’s such an issue. She’s 7! Really does get my back up. Thanks for all your replies.

OP posts:
Wallabyone · 28/04/2019 12:07

My almost seven year old is brilliant and helpful, and tidied up after himself with little/no help. My 4.5 year old is very different. The eldest has always been the tidier, more organised of the two. I think they're all different but I do think you need to set high expectations. Mine love a challenge so I often put a timer on to get the youngest to help.

DelurkingAJ · 28/04/2019 12:29

Personality has a huge impact. DS1 needs persuasion, cajoling and generally grumps (but will get there). DS2 is the least messy of us all at 3 (although his tidying can lead to things getting lost...).

SeaToSki · 28/04/2019 12:36

Is he her Dad? He sounds like he really doesnt understand children. Does he want to understand or just he just want to moan? There are lots of good books on ages and stages of childhood, maybe he could read one. I think it is completely age appropriate for a 7 year old to need some direction and help with clearing a room. Maybe try a star chart and she has to a job every night before dinner. Maybe tidying the playroom is split into a couple of specific tasks over Sat and Sun nights so the playroom is organized for the new week. Maybe he could help teach her how to tidy. Maybe he could make dinner so you can help her learn how to tidy. You dont come out of the womb knowing things like how to tidy a playroom, you have to be taught and encouraged and celebrated when you get it right so that you want to and can do it on your own.

roseinparadise · 28/04/2019 12:41

My son will tidy if my husband or I work with him and help. Alone he won't do it, almost seems to find it confusing and overwhelming. I find encouragement and company help a lot.

cliquewhyohwhy · 28/04/2019 12:45

My kids always tidy up after themselves when I ask them too, occasionally have the 3 year old moan but she will do it. They put their plates in the sink, dirty clothes in the wash basket and the oldest two (6&7) make their own beds in a morning.

Picklypickles · 28/04/2019 13:04

My daughter is 7 and its a constant battle to get her to clean up after herself, her bedroom gets very messy very quickly because EVERYTHING from books, dressing up dresses, clothes, towels, toys just get pulled out and then thrown on the floor or under/on/behind the bed or spills out onto the landing/bathroom/stairs, she wont put anything back where it belongs. I have previously tidied it for her but the last couple of times I've done it its taken me hours, I have enough to do already without spending an extra few hours a week cleaning up her pit aswell! I think she's old enough to pick up atfer herself, it takes a lot of instructions and bribery/threats to get her to do it but we usually get there eventually!

LittleMissEngineer · 28/04/2019 13:18

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Stravapalava · 28/04/2019 13:51

Hahahahahahahahaha I wish! She does it, but only because we have reward chart. It is done with very bad grace.

Guylian2019 · 28/04/2019 13:53

I can assure you that 7 year olds (and younger) manage this at school so certainly can at home!

MiniMum97 · 28/04/2019 13:58

7 year olds are perfectly capable of tidying up (and lots of other jobs around the house). They may not want to but that's a different story.

nevernotstruggling · 28/04/2019 16:09

Yes but I have to nag and threaten. I bought the dds a big storage unit with drawers and one is for barbies and one for clothes and so on. I made it clear there was no excuse then. It's worked quite well. It's my belief you need to reach good habits and responsibility for ones own possessions.

nevernotstruggling · 28/04/2019 16:10

That said we had a playroom in the old house and they found it really overwhelming and would take one toy into the living room. When we had friends over all the kids would trash it. I don't miss is

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