Mess and fights...how do you deal with keeping the kids toys and other stuff tidy?

[Astrophe]

I have Dc ages 6 and 4, DD is home ed, so we are all at home a lot.

I generally let them take out their toys as they wish during the day, and, with the exception of a big box of legos, or anything with smll pieces that the baby might eat, I let them leave it out until pack away time. And then we have an hour of fighting, whinging etc to get them to pack away.

I have tried getting them to pack up as they go, but they do often come back to something later in the day, and I just feel as though I spend the whole day hounding them and neither they nor I relax and enjoy the day.

So I'm wondering, how do others deal with pack up/keeping toys tidy? what rules/systems do you have, and do they work?

TIA

Oh that sounds so familiar . I have a big struggle with my two (also 4 and 6)and the mess mountain. Only thing that I have found helps is having some 'tidy up' music (something fast and loud). We then race to get all the toys away before the end of 1 or 2 songs depending on the mess. Doesn't always work though. We also have a mini blitz at some point in the day.

a mid day mini blitz sounds like a good idea.

I have a friend who had a navy dad, and dad would go round and pick up everything that was in the wrong place and put it in a box, and then the kids had to buy their toys back with their pocket money.

I keep thinking I'll try it, but can imagine the resulting tantrums..its one of those labour intsnsive discipline measures that only pays out in the longer term.

We don't always get around to tidying up. What's the point on Saturday evening when it's all going to come out on Sunday morning?

But when we do, we do it towards the end of the day before they are too tired. Usually about half an hour before the evening meal. Then they watch a bit of TV while their meal is being prepared.

They can leave their rooms in whatever state pleases them except on the day we vacuum.

I meant to say that when we leave it too late in the day, they are too tired and they just whinge.