Systems that help your kids pick up after themselves
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We are starting from scratch in our house and I'm looking to implement systems that help my kids pick up after themselves. I have come to the realization that I can't pick up after everyone, there's simply not enough hours in the day! Chore charts? Natural rhythms? Want to hear it all, please!!
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When my kids were all little I would do the 4,5,6,7 routine. At 4:00 I would set a timer for 10 minutes. I would put music on and try to make it fun and we would all pick up as quick as we could. Then I would start dinner. Bath time was at 5:00, dinner at 6:00, bedtime at 7:00. Once they were all asleep I would tidy anything still out and everything was in order when we woke up. I really only focused on common areas once a day. The key was making sure everything for the most part was put up before I went to bed. As they got older I used natural consequences. Chores had to be done before they could have any privileges (screens, friends over, etc)
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We can’t move from one activity to the next until the previous is picked up, no matter what. Everything has a place. Stay consistent with both (it IS a LOT of REMINDING!!!! - but builds habits over time rather than you doing for them)
At 6pm right before we start dinner, we do a laundry basket dance party. They pick the songs + each kid gets a basket and goes around picking up anything out and putting it in its place (not just toys - clothes on floor, towels in bathroom, shoes by door). Once completed, they earn their “star” that we put in their star jars.
They are also required to make their beds every day. Not perfectly, just giving the effort and taking pride in everyday rhythms. This is part of earning their “star”.
5 stars at end of week = $5 to save or spend!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1520267745/ -
@clingingtogood this is brilliant!!! Do they have zones for picking up? How do they not fight about how much or whose stuff they are putting in their basket?
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We have recently purged our house and I have found the limited amount of crap/toys helps. For the toys that we did keep, we practiced a 5 minute cleanup every day before our nighttime show. We put some fun music on and EVERYONE cleans up or no show. If you have a lot of little toys that go in certain baskets, we did picture labels which made it easier for the little ones who can't ready know where to put things. This is not PERFECTION and its ALWAYS a work in progress..... haha
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@clingingtogood I love this!! Also love the jar idea!!
