Do you get your young dc to tidy?

[Putthechocsdown]

Dd is 6 and seems to be getting messier. I’ve tried to instil her to put the toys she’s finished with away before getting out new ones etc. She just chucks things around. She had a friend over today and whilst I want her to have fun, it’s a complete mess.
Is she too young and I should just do it for now or should I make her tidy up?

What do you do?

She is definitely old enough to tidy up (granted she might not want to!) I often say it in a casual way: please first tidy x away then we can have lunch/watch TV/go to the park/do some painting etc. whatever it is she wants to do next.

I tidy with the child. So I do Lego while she does another toy etc. I set out boxes for her to tidy things into, put the full boxes away, talk about how nice it is to have things tidy, but she has to join in and help too.

My 3 year old tidies up, we’ve always encouraged it. So if my 3 year old can (with help sometimes of course) your 6 year old can.

Absolutely yes. From the age of about 2. From 3, expected bed made each morning and dressing themselves, washing in hamper etc.

They teach it at nursery and from reception in school.

we used to put a tidy up song on and blast through.

youngest is now 9 and helps around the house, dishwasher, hoovering, mopping etc.

changes bed sheets, own washing put away

Putting away toys at the end of the day was what we did when they were little. We always did it together.
They also used to ‘help’ with washing up, folding clothes, putting the washing machine on and vacuuming.

Yes absolutely not too young. I started as soon as DS was old enough to take toys out by himself. It's just a case of being consistent and modelling what tidying up entails.

For as long as I can remember DC have helped around the house, They always tidy their toys away, use the mini vac when they make crumbs and hang up the towels after use.

I thought you were going to describe a toddler!

6 is by far old enough. She will be tidying up at school so of course she can at home!

Of course she's old enough to tidy up! If she is chucking stuff everywhere, why are you not stepping in and stopping this? Put away some of the stuff in an inaccessible place and rotate toys so she only has a few at a time.

My DS became a very enthusiastic tidier after we got an iRobot Roomba vaccuum cleaner. We had to tidy all the things away before we could run the roomba and he loved the roomba much more than the toys so he was very quick to bundle the toys away so we could start the roomba. He started that at 18 months.

DD is 6. She is responsible for her bedroom (toys up off the floor and putting her laundry in the basket). We both do the living room and the kitchen - for her, that usually means colouring pens and craft items put back in their designated places, I do the bathrooms. The one rule I have in particular is that if she wants to do an activity, she has to clean up the mess from the previous one. She has a moan about it, but she's usually ok with it.

It slightly depends on the child but yes, at 6 they should be able to do a reasonable amount of tidying

do you have clear places for things to be put back to? so she knows exactly where things go?

do you keep a limit on the number of toys/things - if there are too many it can be hard for a young brain to figure out

My 2 year old does with support. I’d definitely expect it from an older child.

Yes, we generally do it together but DS (5) will also tidy up himself as he goes. They're also very hot on tidying up at school too.

I started at two and they're now ,17 and 11 and keep their rooms clean and tidy. They also do laundry and help keep communal areas clean. We work as a team. They want to bring their friends to clean space so they do their bit .

My eldest is 6 and has a chore chart. Every day he has to
Help make his own bed
Water the plants
Help look after our dog
Any school work that needs doing
Any other Little jobs e.g fetch me something, carry something upstairs, take own plate to the sink.
Empty the washing machine

Tidying is not on the list but definitely expected. He also has to put hjs own laundry in the basket. If he completes his chart (every 5 weeks) he gets a small prize.

Yep! Our son is four and has always been required to help tidy up his toys. He also helps us dust the house.

His solo chores are setting the table for dinner and putting his dirty clothes in the wash basket.

What's your system for toys? Is it easy for them to tidy up? Eg having to open a door, take out a box and lift a lid to put block away Vs an open basket sitting out?
My kids need reminders occasionally but have been tidying up after themselves since they could walk. By 7 they could do most household chores - dishwasher, laundry etc, with minimal or no supervision. They don't do it regularly (I don't always need them to) but can help when needed.
When friends are over they help tidy up before they go home.

Top tip - when the friend is still there tell them 'ok guys X parent will be here to pick them up in 20 mins- time to tidy up' no way another 6 year old who isn't your child will disobey you on that. Seems to work with my stubborn 7 year old.