Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Mumsnet survey - how many of you have got a 3 year old who tidies up without being asked?

55 replies

Dottydot · 08/04/2007 21:07

Dp thinks that now ds2 is 3 (well, from tomorrow), he should be starting to remember to tidy up after he's been playing with stuff.

I think she's bonkers and we'll need to be asking/telling him to tidy up for a good while yet.

She said why don't you start a thread - she's convinced there are squillions of thoughtful 3 year olds out there who put their toys away once they've played with them...

Prove me right!!

OP posts:
Cloudhopper · 08/04/2007 21:08

Not mine. And she doesn't even like mess

harpsichordcarrier · 08/04/2007 21:08
ELF1981 · 08/04/2007 21:08

My 18 month will tidy her toys away when asked at home, but at the childminders, she'll help the four year old tidy up at the end of the day without being asked.

Twiglett · 08/04/2007 21:09

she's barking

although have to say the younger they are the tidier they are .. as they get older it takes much more energy to get them to tidy up at times (my 6 year old hoovered today but other days he'll just refuse)

harpsichordcarrier · 08/04/2007 21:09

she is joking right??

dd1 is nearly four and will, if reminded, put dirty washing in the basket, rubbish in the bin Etc.
IF REMINDED.
SOMETIMES.
as for putting toys away, maybe at the end of the day, if reminded and in the mood

Nemo2007 · 08/04/2007 21:10

pmsl mmmm and then I wake up...ds doesnt even tidy up hslf the time he is asked unless he can constantly moan

ELF1981 · 08/04/2007 21:10

Oh and DH was using the broom the other day and it's dd's fave toy now. She tends to follow his example and sweep everything into the corner though!

colditz · 08/04/2007 21:11

Nope. Some (some) girls do, sometimes, I don't know one boy that does.

Nemo2007 · 08/04/2007 21:11

will say 9 times out of 10 he will put his dirty washing in the basket though.

Original poster
Dottydot · 08/04/2007 21:13

No, she's not kidding..!

OP posts:
glassslipper · 08/04/2007 21:16

my DD (3) has 'tidy up time' with me before bed and will help. She also tidies up if the cat is in a playful mood as she doesnt want to share her toys. She is a child who likes things 'just so' though.

SenoraPostrophe · 08/04/2007 21:16

ds does very occasionally.

but more often he doesn't do it at all unless I hold his hand.

franke · 08/04/2007 21:18

Er, no. He will tidy if we do it together. He's quite good at putting dirty plates in the kitchen without being prompted, because that's what they do at Kindergarten.

ELF1981 · 08/04/2007 21:18

Are you all trying to tell me I shouldn't get my hopes up and that my dd will defect and become a tidying deviant?!

harpsichordcarrier · 08/04/2007 21:19

there is a world of difference between an 18 month old who wants to please mummy and copy her
and a three year old who wants to do neither!

JackieNo · 08/04/2007 21:19

I wish. DS(3) is completely useless at tidying up, anything he picks up he starts playing with instead of putting away. DD(7) also only tends to do it when nudged, though I've started the once a week 'I'm coming round with a bin bag and anything left on the floor in your bedroom will go in the bin' routine, and it seems to be working, so today she did actually go and tidy up her room without prompting - for perhaps the third time ever.

Original poster
Dottydot · 08/04/2007 21:20

Yes, I think we're going through a tricky patch because ds2 seems to be developing his Own Mind...

OP posts:
ELF1981 · 08/04/2007 21:20

Ha, it's not copying mummy, I rarely clean!!

Heathcliffscathy · 08/04/2007 21:21

ds VERY occassionally does it (for example put some newspapers that were on the floor into the log basket).

but not really his own toys unless asked. and a lot of the time he needs to be told. and sometimes even then won't.

hmmmm.

sniff · 08/04/2007 21:22

not mine I am afraid

nallyschocolateorange · 08/04/2007 21:22

ds actually enjoys tidying up, like its another game, but doesn't very often take it upon himself to start.

wrinklytum · 08/04/2007 21:24

Mine only tidies up if bribed with a story or tonight some Easter egg

FrannyandZooey · 08/04/2007 21:25

Bonkers yes

ds is almost 4 and NEVER tidies up without being asked

he is just starting to remember to clear his plate etc when he gets down from the table. He remembers about a third of the time I would say? Can also put his clothes into the laundry when getting changed, but those are activities with clearly defined endings. Playing is fluid and one thing leads to another, they wander off and forget what they were doing. I think at this age a child who is happy to come and help do a blitz when asked is the best you can aim for.

Miaou · 08/04/2007 21:26

er, well my 20 month old ds tidies up after himself (and me ) - he'll quite often get a load of toys out, play with them for a while, look around and sigh, put them all in the toybox then start again!!

He also picks up stray cat biscuits and puts them in their bowls, fluff (which goes in the bin), and puts the washing in the machine for me!

But I don't think it will last ...

Original poster
Dottydot · 08/04/2007 21:27

Yes, when he wakes up he puts his pull ups in the bin every morning and gets his pants - I'm impressed he even does that! I suppose being the one at work all day, it doesn't drive me as mad as it's driving dp. Doesn't help that his favourite game at the moment is Tipping, which lasts a short while and then it's on to the next thing (leaving tipped stuff out). Tricky... We do ask him to tidy up and he'll help (kind of).

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread