Any tips from born organised mums on how to keep the house tidyish in the holidays?

[racingheart]

Um - thread title says it all really. My house looks like a bomb within three days. If I spend all my time out with kids then there's never time to clean. If I'm cleaning, the kids tornado whatever room I'm not tidying. Want to have fun, preserve energy and keep on top of the house for six weeks. Any advice?

If you find the ansa let me know, weve been out all morning, came home had lunch. Only back just over an hour, I am now sat here looking at lego all over the sitting room floor, 2 pairs of shoes in the middle of the hall way, Armbads on the sofa, pens on the dining table, peices of paper under the dining table and all the lunch bits to wash up. Where are the kids? Outside jumping in muddy puddles in the garden!!! Arghhh, by time ive cleared all this up theyll be in in their muddy boots!

yes

you need to teach them responsibility for themselves and their own belongings

needs to be done early.....my 2 year old makes his own bed every morning.....so start young!

i have 5 dc ranging from 2 to teen.....you need them to start doing it now or the teenage years and all the clutter,will literally take you over!

ILT you are right. I've drilled some things in to them - they're good at putting shoes and coats away as soon as they come in, but once they start playing they forget everything else and the house is just like peachy described!

Picnics and lots of 'em... if we take sandwiches to the park I don't have to hoover the kitchen nearly so often! Also bribery - tidy bedrooms/chores = pocket money.

We don't go out for the day unless everything is clean and tidy - it's a great incentive for them to pick everything up and help me.

We always tidy up before something else comes out too. So if they want the wii on, they have to clear away the lego first.

I know how you feel! My tip is to drill into them that they can only get the next toy out/go onto the next thing once the previous toy has been tidied away.

and also accept that it will be less than perfect in the holidays.

Some greta ideas. Will try them all...

Alternate playdates with other mothers. When other DCs are over, confine them to one bedroom/the garden, and tidy/clean the rest of the house. When your DCs are at the other family, clean leftover rooms.

Another vote for confinng DCs to a few rooms.

Our DCs are not allowed in bedrooms unless it is to sleep. They eat in kitchen and have a playroom. They are not allowed anywhere else.

Otherwise, DW taks them out on Saturday morning for judo and I give the house a good clean and tidy for 3 hours. We tidy kitchen every day. Thats it.

ds (3) has to tidy up his toys every evening.
the living room is giving a quick tidy and clean every evening as well. during the day we just make sure that the paths are clear...