Is this a fair punishment?

[memoo]

DD1 is 11 and DS is 9.

I have lost count of how many times I have told them to tidy their bedrooms.

They do a half hearted job but there is always stuff still lying around on the floor

So I am planning to get a bin bag and put all the things that haven't been put away into it and not let them have them back for a week.

Is this fair, or really mean?

yeah you need to warn them first

Ok, good point, I need to warn them first.

Also, it might help to give them a check list. First put all the dirty clothes in the wash. Then put toys away. then books. Then make your beds etc.

My two won't tidy if I just say tidy but using a number of items or a timer helps them focus. Seeing how much they can do in five minutes, or putting away 50 bits of Lego each before the hoover comes out - that sort of thing works better than general instructions sometimes.

Thats a good idea Menagerie. Their idea of tidying is a lot different to mine, but it will make it a lot clearer for them if they have it written down, thanks

I agree with warning them first, then anything that hasn't been tidied away gets put in the binbag.

One of my relatives did this with her 2 eldest DC, and told them that if they wanted their toys back they'd have to pay 10p of their pocket money for each toy they really wanted back. The kids took back a few toys each and the money they paid to get them back went into their money tins to be put into their accounts eventually.

It's also a good way to find out which toys kids will play with more often and which ones they will be ok with going to charity shops/bin, etc.

How generous that you are planning to give the toys back! I tell mine to tidy up (playroom or bedroom) and that I will be back in x number of minutes (timer is set). I warn them that any toys out of place will be taken away and donated to chldren who appreciate their toys enough to care for them (ie put them away so they won't be stepped on, broken, lost, etc). It only took one donation for my two boys to clean up properly. Harsh, I know, but it certainly contributed to the feeling that they have that I mean what I say