How old do they need to be

[dreamteamgirl]

Before they should be able to tidy up for themselves?

DS is 19 months and has no concept at all of tidying up his toys. When he will get involved and tidy up some smaller things like lego or stickle bricks or little cars he is delighted when we finish to tip them all out again ,GRRRR.

I havent found a way to engage him in putting bigger things away at all.

What age would you expect him to be involved in this/ doing it? And any hints to help it happen?
Ta muchly

I think 19m is old enough to be involved in tidying, although definitely too soon to expect him to do it all by himself! I'd carry on doing what you're doing and if he tips it out again, say calmly (!) 'oh dear, now we're going to have to do that again before we go and do xyz'. He's probably sussed that it winds you up, so you need to make him understand that untidying is just going to prolong the boring process and that you're not going to move on to the next game until its been done. Definitely think its worth trying to instill the idea that tidying his toys is partly his responsibility though!

My ds is 20 months and wouldn't have a clue about tidying. I usually say something like 'come on lets put your bricks away' and as I am putting them away he gets them back out again!

ds is 18 months old and loves tidy up time! We go to a toddler group with 3 year old older sister. At the end of session they have tidy up time where all kids pitch in, ds just copies and this carries on at home! I think i must be just lucky!

rofl....ys 25 month...tidys if he wants to after encouragement, ms, almost 4...tidys in the nursery, but laughs at me, lol....will help if bribed though! And es...well...he tidys if made too...but needs a lot of supervision to actually achieve anything!
Saying that allthe neighbourgirls seem to love hoovering, dusting and washing the floor, etc...bless! I don't encourage them, but neither am I discouraging them...lmao

This is very funny, sorry I know it's not meant to be but my 8 year old is still rubbish at it!!

I have a 10 year old..she was brilliant at tidying up when she was 2. Her bedroom now looks like a small thermoneuclear device has exploded in it. Don't hold your breath, dreamteamgirl!

'Tidying' presupposes an understanding of order and planning,routine and housework and cleanliness and planning a day.

Beyond the realms of even the most intelligent 19 month old's imaginationI am afrad,but he will enjoy it if you make it fun ie: post blocks into a box.

aha, well I am glad that its beyond most his age. There a few local that seem to do it routinely, and was concerned that I hadnt been teaching this 'skill'

Will keep trying to involve him, but accept its never gonna be his fave activity

Thanks peeps