If you said to your 2yr old

[WeeClype]

"Put your toys back in your room and then you can come down the stairs"

Would they do it?

My 2 yr old DS had his toys scattered all outside his bedroom door and I kept repeating that sentence to him when he told me he wanted down the stairs. He never put one toy back! I'm trying to work out if I'm wasting my breath trying to keep the toys under control.

Very occasionally my 2.4 year old DD might - but more often she doesn't.

Mine wouldn't if I said that... but if I said - "we have to put your toys back..." and then I pick up one and put it back, she will join in until they're all put back. It's worth trying to make a game of it as well - "how quickly can you put back all of your toys?". That gets her motivated as well....

My ds does but usually I get told no a few times first depending on his mood. If I put one away hell do thevrest.

Children of that age will very rarely understand cause and effect or consequences. Our 3.3yo is only just starting to understand this and that he can make a choice. Don't expect him to understand straight away and try not to chastise him for not doing it. The whole "and then you can come down stairs" bit will probably be a step to far. Oh and don't forget to model for the first 5 to 10 times i.e. you pack away with him then bring him downstairs. He may get our just by rote learning.

No he wouldn't. DS2 is 2.5 and would just run off laughing. If I said to him 'help mummy put the toys in the basket, and then we'll go downstairs' then he would probably co-operate

Yes 2.6yo DS would understand and do it. Simple if you do x, we can do y. Put on your coat and we'll go to the park, wash your hands and you can eat dinner etc.

Ah ok I was asking too much lol....I was downstairs doing the dishes so couldn't help him. His 10 yr old brother gave in and picked all the toys up

Rax you are right if I said to him he needs his jacket on to go to the park he would have no problem going to get that, he prob hates tidying up just as much as I do

I'm sure you're 100% right. Probably understands completely just rejects the very idea. Can't say I disagree tbh.

I find with my 2.3 it really depends on tone of voice (and how tired she is). If I say it in a naggy way she will say 'no! I don't want to!' whereas if I say I in a bright cheery way or say 'help me do this' then she'll jump to it.

(Of course by bright cheery I mean fake bright cheery said through gritted teeth.)

Out of interest, can your 2 year olds come downstairs on their own? Our stairs is pretty steep, I don't think DD would be safe coming downstairs on her own.

Also sometimes DD will happily agree to doing what she's told only to forget what she's supposed to be doing en route to doing it and become distracted by something shiny.

My DS turned 2 in March and can come down the stairs by himself, I do have stair gates tho so there is always someone beside him incase he loses his balance.

Oh yes that's what I mean, DD only comes down if someone is beside her. I thought you meant he was OK to come down on his own if you were downstairs already :)

My 2.6 year old would probably understand 'put those toys in that box first then you can come downstairs'
Hit and miss as to whether she would do if without a fuss though!
She can easily get up and downstairs on her own though. Haven't had gates for about 6 months now (she's the youngest) and she roams around the 3 storey house freely :-)

My 2.5 yo DD would tidy up if I made it into a game. Her twin brother would look at me blankly and throw himself onto the floor in a tantrum.

Dt's would both do it but they are freaks remarkably well behaved. Ds1 & dd1 are 13 & 10 and way messier than dt's. I'm guessing we are in the calm before the storm

Usually, if I phrase it as "can you help mummy and put all those toys back?" She likes to help.

DS is 5 now, my initial response was no, but then I realised you're only asking them to put them into the room, I think they possibly could.

Does it count if you suggest you do it together? that's how I get DS to pick up his stuff (2.10). He likes to squeal "teamwork!" and high five me after its all done. before tipping all the cars out again and running away

"Put your toys back in your room and then you can come down the stairs"

DC1: probably not. DC2-4 probably, depending on mood. DC3 might have found it too many instructions to follow.

My dad is a little younger but the only way I cab get her to tidy up is by singing 'Tidy them away, tidy them away so we can play another day' Then she helps pack away otherwise with have 5 jigsaws on the floor at once etc.

Dd not dad! Stupid auto correct!

No way on this planet would my DS at 2 complied with this request! He hated being told to do anything and tidying was a particular thing he'd refuse to help with or do. Sometimes if I made a start he'd join in but often not.

He would do it now at 4 as he has learnt to be more co-operative and knows that he is expected to do what he's been asked to do.

He's too little to complete a complex task like that on his own. He also won't have the attention span for it. Tidying up is a collaborative exercise at this stage.