to want my DC to understand what 'clean and tidy your bedroom' means

[creamteas]

Clean and tidy your bedroom. It is not rocket science is it? But somehow I fail to get them to understand that it means (as examples):

Rubbish gets thrown away not just put in a pile
Throwing stuff under the bed/in the draw is not the same as tidying
Cleaning needs to involves things like a duster/hoover

etc etc

They are (relatively) house-trained for most other areas and tasks, but this final hurdle I just can't crack.....

How old are they? And have you shown them exactly how you expect it done?

How old are they? If older than 8 (just chosen an age I think I would have understood this), then YANBU! Have you explained your expectations? Given them a ticklist?

X posts. I blame my very slow iPod.

The youngest is 13, and, to be honest they were better when they were smaller!!!

And yes I have shouted explained over and over and over again.

They do understand then; they're just being lazy as I was when I was that age. I'd be withdrawing privileges (sp?), but I know I'm a bit hard like that .

january glad its not just me then.....

And why is the floor is a good place for CLEAN washing? :(

Arrgh I hate the clean your room thing. My lot never got the concept either.
The boys are grown and gone (for now) and the state the room was left in after moving out made me want to weep.
With Dd I have to be specific, no toys on the floor or beds, all toys in their boxes, all clothes in the washing basket, etc etc and she sort of gets it. The I use the old, if it's on the floor when I vacuum I'm throwing it in the bin, that helps a bit. But I don't think they get it till they have their own home and kids messing up the place.

Monday - put clothes away, either hang up, fold up or in the wash. 10 minutes.
Tuesday - Clothes, again. Dust shelves, clean windowsill. 10 minutes.
Wednesday - Clothes, under bed, tidy drawers. 10 minutes.
Thursdsay - Clothes, clear rubbish, empty bins. 10 minutes.
Friday - Clothes - hoover, dust. 10 minutes.

Saturday and Sunday off.
It works most of the time, here.

Oh I HATE the tidying arguments

my dd3 - 3.5 is better at it than her sisters, 8 and 9 - 9 is a pig who lives in s sty lined with dirty pants and food wrappers - drives me INSANE

oh and NO YANBU!

I've been having the tidy up argument again today
I ended up in tears because it's so tiring trying to get them to
The landlords coming tomorrow too and I've never met him

2 hours later with no phone, tv, internet etc and still little discernible progress.....

I think breaking it up into little jobs is a good idea. So rather than 'clean and tidy your room'

it's:
fill bag with rubbish,
dirty washing in bin,
clean washing away,
toys in box,
books on shelves,
dust,
hoover.

I think that all as one task it looks boring and long overwhelming.

It's similar to how I used to have to give jobs to DH, but he gets it now that doing the washing means putting the stuff in the machine AND switching it on AND taking it out AND drying it AND sorting it AND putting it away.

Just shut the door on it, works for me.

Oh I gave up on this years ago. It used to really upset me that dd lived in such a hovel. Socks on the floor, piles of crap everywhere, bed never made.

I just shut the door on it now, if she wants to live like Stig of the Dump then that's her lookout. As long as there are no cups, plates or any food she can do what she wants. It is her own space after all. Sometimes though I say 'sort that bloody room out' and she has a spring clean.

She tidies up after herself and does her jobs in the other parts of the house, I am not having her clutter anywhere else.

I do occasionally say 'your room is a bloody health hazard' it fact I stuck a Hazard warning sticker that I found on his door

yes....definitely break it down to specifics

Make your bed, PROPERLY

EVERYTHING off the floor

Dirty laundry out, clean laundry away.

oh and open that bloody window and let the stink out ffs

As house rules no crockery is allowed off the ground floor and laundry should only ever be clean and put away or dirty in the laundry basket.