Best tips for encouraging DS (4) to tidy toys

[MyAmygdalaDidIt]

What do you do?

it's all got v negative here ...toys being taken away etc.

Any suggestions please?

We have a tidy up song and when is goes on we dance about and throw the tots on their storage tubs. (Got that idea from nursery.) If all else fails I get the Hoover out...

Oh god toys not tots! Although that might work too...

Make it a game, who can tidy the most amount of toys etc...

No next toy out without current ones put away?

at ThereGoesTheYear chucking 'tots'!

I have been tempted!!!

Like song idea thanks - will try that.

Yep, Gnocchi doing that ... will persevere.

We sing that song from Mary Poppins, or we do when I'm in a calm mood.

Otherwise it can all get a bit shout

Have been a bit 'shouty' of late and feeling v bad about it.

Serious boundary testing going on I think.

I have an app on my phone that does a countdown. We agree a time first and then I set it going and ds stops it when he's done. He gets a star on a chart. I think he likes the drama of the clock counting down!

Ds is very good at one toy in to get one toy out.

Everybodys my DS would love that! Do you know what the app is called?

Quick kids

Not sure if it is free or not but the amount of things I have managed to get ds to do with this thing has been great!

I do a countdown app on the ipad too. I just downloaded a generic free timer app and set it for 10 mins for tidy up. Any child (I have 4 yr old and 2 yr old) that tidies up to my satisfaction for the 10 mins gets a star/smartie/tv programme/whatever. It's amazing how much we get done in 10 mins at 6pm compared to me trying to keep it tidy all day.

'Get yer bloody toys tidied away or they're getting chucked in this bin bag'

I don't know but if you crack it i'm all ears!!

Actually "Anything still on the floor in ten minutes gets thrown away" does work remarkably well :)

Thanks Everybodys - I have just downloaded it and it looks brilliant. Going to put it into practise when DS1 needs to get ready for preschool in a little while!

Ds loves the fact it has his photo on it!

We make it into a game - at the moment, the toy bag monster wants feeding, with much growling and burping (this is DS, unsurprisingly). Otherwise, it's hopeless.

He's a phone addict so I'm going to look up that app too for a bit of variety (all that growling makes my throat a bit scratchy :) )

I'm going to look for it too - anything that cuts down on shouting and bad tempers

My cleaning lady brings a giant vacuum cleaner with her when ds is at school. This sorts out tidying the night before she comes.

Isn't going to work once he's on holiday!!

My last resort is always the big black bag though

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Will have a go with timer app too.