to wish they didn't make such a MESS?!

[StigoftheBump]

Ok, so maybe IABU since I'm just embarking on clearing up, but...

Why do children generate so much endless, useless stuff? I'm not talking about tidying up after a particular activity, just the shedding of crap (not literally, they're potty trained) as they roam about the house.

DD(3) has a collection of handbags, filled with scraps of paper, pencils, sequins, notebooks, bobbles and general sparkliness which she trails in her wake like a Babe in the Wood; she also takes herself off to her room 5 times a day for a full change of clothes, which seems to result in the rejected items draping themselves forlornly down the stairs and over the carpet/furniture/baby.

Is this a girl thing? (Her slightly older brother's not quite so bad, limiting himself to reams of paper covered in intricate drawings and his Lego-floored bedroom).

I have spent years nagging and making mine clear up after themselves but still at 12 and 10 they drop everything where they are and I have to send them back to pick things up, put them away, etc. I do it immediately all the time but it doesn't seem to sink in even though it is making them work twice as hard as if they just did it straight away!

All those little things really add up and they seem endless, in fairness it's mostly dd now as she leaves drawings and pens and various other craft activities dotted around the house and we always have something drying in the kitchen, currently a papier mache house for zhu zhu pets.

I have DS1 who is 4 and leaves books everywhere and then has a meltdown when one goes missing (he has a set of 30 thomas tank books and on the weekend his bulgy one went missing, cue endlessly asking us where it was, and after a couple of searches we resorted to lieingsaying we would look for it later. Its been found now, DH put it on his pillow after he was asleep, greeted by a very happy boy this morning) anyway I digress, if its not his books it sheets of paper covered in random writing he likes to copy or his trains. DD is the worst culprit, she is 2 1/2 and like OP has a collection of bags filled with shiny things and ripped up paper (my boot slipper was filled with bits of paper the other day!!!) Or its playfood and tea set everywhere or dolly clothes or her clothes (always managed to be naked by the end of the day!) Or dressing up clothes etc. DS2 is only 4 months and I seem to be endlessly picking up his stuff too!!!!

Does is ever end. Am always reading parenting books about how to get your kids to clear up. In the books, a couple of time outs and some mild bribery re screen time seem to work.

In my life I feel that I will while away my days to retirement tidying and tidying again and eventually be found either dead or just mumbling under piles of paper with one or two words/ half a picture on them, discarded by my children in their search for the prefect story/ art work.

DD is 5 and is pretty good at tidying up after herself. She has to be at the min as I'm heavily pregnant and struggle to bend down

The beads/craft stuff and little purses, bobbles etc seem to breed in this house!