My kids are trashing my house. Come give me your tips to keep every thing in order.

[Alvinsredhead]

My two youngest 3&7 are so messy! Everything is basically fair game in the house. I spend so much time cleaning/clearing areas I’ve just done that I’m not getting in with other stuff that needs doing.

They pull all the clothes out of the wardrobe and draws to dress up in they also have a massive dressing up box.

There is a big draw set and sack of toys in the living room that gets pulled out daily.

I’ve just cleaned out their bedroom which has a kitchen set in it and half of my ‘missing my kitchen utensils are in.

They climb in my wardrobe and disturb all the clothes in there.

Cupboard doors are left open all the time.

I need tips on what you do with all the kids stuff and if it stays away or I might need to get rid of the kids tbh.

I don’t want to put all the kids stuff upstairs as they won’t spend much time down here and they will destroy up stairs!

Disclaimer :- I do have lots of shit

Probably old fashioned of me, but isn't a seven year old of an age to understand that there are no-go areas for playing/toys such as your bedroom and the kitchen? I don't see why they would be in your bedroom at all. Do you involve them at all in the clearing up?

We have those Ikea cubes to store everything in and my 3 year old understands that we have tidy up time in the morning before lunch and before going to bed. Admittedly the level of help she provides varies but it means we keep on top of things and things stay organised ish.
I’d be quite firm with a 7 year old who was going into my wardrobe or taking everything out of theirs.

Put child locks on rooms , wardrobe doors.
Then tell 7 year old the baby can't reach, so they will be tidying up if there is a mess.
I once put up a massive treat on the fridge, day out.
Told eldest they had 4 strikes, then we won't go. We didn't go.
They never lost another day out.

Fridge I do but she ends up stuffing things in the wrong place but will tidy up if I ask her too. The little one will too mostly.

I’ve banned them both from even opening all wardrobes.

I think I need to get rid of lots of stuff too.

Im thinking of looking for some lockable draws

You can cable tie wardrobe doors.

Keep them out of all the wardrobes and cupboards and declutter don't let them have so many toys out at the same time and get them to put toys away at bedtime .

Better supervision.

No go areas

Stair gates/cupboard locks

Massively reduce the amount of toys they have. (Get then away somewhere for a day and have a cull)

Designated places for everything and teach them where everything belongs.

Keep toys restricted to their room and one room downstairs.

Create a tidy up routine. So if they play before school they have to tidy up before school. Tidy up before every meal and before bed. Have a tidy up song. Everybody must tidy.

Tell them anything left on the floor after tidy up time gets put in toy jail for a week.

You need to be in charge and lead by example. “Ok Dd, your dresses don’t belong on the floor, let’s tidy them where the belong or they have to go in jail”

More supervision. (I know I said that already but it’s really the key- you have to keep on top of it- they won’t- they’re kids)

I wouldn't stand for it. Mine would get into trouble if they went in my bedroom and touched my stuff although my dd wrecked my Clarins lipstick once when their dad was supposedly looking after them

Say No and mean it.

You need to get tough.

No means no and if they ignore that, start punishing them.

They won't listen if there's no consequences because why would they?

Get a lock on your bedroom door. I ended up doing this, it also meant I could hide presents easily.
Reduce their toys.

Say No and mean it.

^ this!

Supervise. Let them get a small amount of stuff out and then when they're starting to move on, make them tidy up what they've had out first before they can get anything else out. Repeat until they do it themselves.

Their own stuff should all have a place so it's realistic for them to tidy it themselves, e.g. Kallax boxes that categories of toy can be thrown in. If things have to be folded to fit then that's never going to happen, keep the organisation simple.

Then insist.

Supervision! The 3 year old shouldn't have free reign to do this stuff and the 7 year old should know that behaviour isn't ok

Here's what I do, although my friends say I'm too strict. I have to dds aged 9 and 4. The 4 year old doesnt play upstairs. The 9 year old doesnt really play anymore but she will go sit in her room and sketch or whatever for some quiet time. They dont empty out full toy boxes. That isnt playing that's destruction. If the 4 year old is getting numerous things out I say "what do you want to play with" she tells me, we find it and put everything else back. My phrase is "choose it use it put it away". They are not allowed in my bedroom unless I am in there. My bedroom door stays shut. The 4 year old goes upstairs to go to the toilet if shes gone for 5 mins I'm calling her to see what shes doing. (Have had incidents of her pouring shampoo etc into the bath). If my 9 year old emptied her wardrobe I would be making her hang and fold everything back up. They also dont go in the kitchen unless I'm in there. They have to ask for food, the 9 year old will pop in to get a drink. Theres nothing for them in there and the kitchen is not a play area. My house is never messy, I hate it. I find I'm more stressed when it is and the kids are more poorly behaved. The trouble is if you dont teach them to respect things then they never will.

A one thing out at a time rule, so if he's playing with the trains and wants the farm then we have to put the train away. Going in cupboards is not allowed. Close supervision.
Ive been very strict about it from a very early age.
We do have lots of toys. Some toys I put in the loft for awhile and bring out on a rainy day

Either rotate toys if you have an attic or somewhere to put 50%, or have a huge cull. Less is definitely more when it come to toys and we have specific boxes/tubs for them to go into. Every toy has a home which also helps with clearing up. I'd really recommend the fabric tubs with attached play mats for things like Lego/Playmobil as they can tip out the tiny pieces and then tip them back in to clear away.

One toy is out at a time and it needs clearing away before the next toy comes out. The lounge is tidied by all of us (with a 3min timer) after dinner, before they go to bed. They get a treat for doing good tidying (not just slinging things away). Any mess they have to help clear up, I certainly don't do it by myself although will help them.

Toys in their bedroom are ones they can play with themselves (for the 4yo), so his toot toot cars are there. They're robust and easy enough for him to clip the road together or play without the road. Brio is downstairs as he needs help creating a track. If DS has been upstairs on his own, then I know to have a look before bedtime so we can set a timer to tidy upstairs before bed.

Broken toys or ones with missing pieces are disposed of/recycled. We have a big cull before birthdays and Christmas. Almost one-in, one-out.

It takes a while but DS tidies up when he's at school, clears away his things before moving onto the next activity. He's very well trained in Reception so there's no reason he can't do this at home too.

Oh and 4yo DS gets to play with his most favourite toy (Play Doh) if he can do good tidying up the day before, or the morning before. He totally loves it and it's a good reinforcement that tidying up brings rewards.