To be scunnered by the state of my lovely new house

[Anythingelseintheboxpandora]

Jesus fucking Christ. Is this normal?!

Two girls - 6 and 4. Moved into a brand new new build not six months ago. It was perfect. We decluttered, they have a huge playroom, ample space etc.

It’s a fucking pigsty now. Toys everywhere. Not a square inch on the floor. They do nothing. They just drag everything out. They put nothing away. Six year old flings herself to the floor in dramatic tears if I have the temerity to ask her to put her barbies away.

And it’s the mixing of toys too. Sylvanian family house full of Lego and barbie shoes. Jenga blocks in the Lego.

I have just flipped my lid. Still no one is tidying. I tidy one room while they trash another.

I’m just…gaaaah!

Your expectations are unrealistic

Ages 6 and 4? Mixing of toys? Do you have OCD? Take a chill pill

I tell mine tidy up or I’ll be throwing it in the bin when I clean . Give her a plastic tub and off she goes!
Keep sets in plastic tubs and only 1/2 tubs at a time (depending on size and contents). Barbie, paw patrol, Lego, cuddly toys, and so on.

Don't worry about sorting toys. A shovel (plastic snow clearer is ideal) .and boxes are all you need.

I think it is quite sad if parents don't let their children mix toys, this can be where their imagination really comes into play

This was even practised at xmas, we would sit with a black rubbish bag and one gift could be opened per child, the paper had to go into the rubbish and they had to spend a little time with that one gift before they could open another.

Jesus

They clearly have too many toys.
Hide half of them then rotate every week or two.

This is my life too! Horrendous, causes me so much stress. I've culled as much toys as possible and have just ordered a big playhouse/shed type thing for the garden and I'm putting the vast majority of the toys out there when it arrives. I can't take it any more!

Hi op, I’m an ex nursery teacher. The kids in my school all were expected to help tidy up twice a day. That’s the rule. Some needed more help than others. Helping the child does not mean doing it for them. So with things like duplo , get the box and take it in turns until it’s done. Removing excess toys is a really good idea, as it’s unreasonable to expect the 4 yr old in particular to spend more time tidying than they have playing! Strategies also were always giving a time warning -so 10 mins before tidy up time saying in 10 minutes we will be tidying up and everyone will need to stop what they have been doing. If you need a wee go now. 😏. Also counting down to ‘lift off’. These ‘alarms’ may help the 6 yr old cope with transitioning from playing to tidying. If she still throws a wobbly do take some toys away until she joins in, but be consistent and try to stay calm.good luck xxxxxx

You don’t need to “be harder” to use your words.
Parenting is about consistency & boundaries. Show them what you want, do it with them. Children of this age need specific instructions and role modelling.

“Clean up” “Tidy up” are far too broad at this age.

• Tell them 3 things you want done “to tidy up”
• show them what goes where
• once they’ve completed it, check with them how it is and show/tell them/thank them for doing as you asked (albeit directed-which they need)

There's a lot to be said for keeping toys to a minimum, and teaching them about tidying up.
I wish I'd thought of this when my children were young

Look up Flylady.net, particularly the bits about kids.
It's really helpful

Your children are very young. You need to find a tidying system, toy rotating system that is age appropriate and that they can manage with your help & then you clean/tidy up the rest.

I thought this was kind of normal for kids?! 🤷‍♀️
I have 3 boys - 2, 7 and 11. They are the definition of mess. I totally feel you on the mixing - ball pit balls in the toy box, boardgame pieces in eachothers boxes, dvd's in wrong cases. I can spend a day just tidying and rearranging the two older ones room (they share).
We are looking to move into a bigger house in the next 18 months and my main concern is a bigger house means more space for mess.
I find that taking away their favourite things goes a long way into making then tidy. Even just a little.
Your definitely NBU to feel deflated and upset tho.