Questions and answers

Compare this section with Yahoo Answers and Google Answers. Questions are all related to becoming pregnant, pregnancy, birth and babies.
Go to the Questions and answers index

IS THIS IMPOSSABLE
Added: 919 days ago.
Added by: mercedesp.
Section: General.
Status: This question is Closed. (Questions will be closed after 10 days.)


I want my daughter who is 3 1/2 to start respecting her toys, is she to young to teach that because she just destroys her room, and she will not clean it. I got her one of those pink and purple storage cubbies at target and she just dumps all her play food,blocks, doll stuff,and so on but just dumps everything out any advice or is this something i just have to deal with until she is older?

---

larryslady - 917 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Teach her now!

nutnut - 918 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) i found the best thing to do is use pictures. if you want lets say block on the shelf then you need to have a picture of the blocks where you want it. if dollies go in the red bin, put a picture of dollies on the bin. they use this method for children in preschool, and also children who have communication disorders, or other "isuues". it works very well since some children are more visual learners. you can also make her a "time line" with picture. its basically a long strip of velcro, and you have pictures showing the tasks being done and in what order. for example you can have a picture of toys for play time, and a picture of toys being put away for clean up time. we did this with my daughter to help her with transitioning. i find if kids know whats going to happen and are given a warning before, there are less arguements. "time to clean up in 5 minutes" while they dont understand 5 minutes at 3, they can understand that soon it will be time to clean up. have them use the time line and put the pictures on it. it works very well. the pictures on the shelves are great too. it shows them exactly where things "belong" and teaches them. also feel free to write the name of the toys on the picture it will help them recongnize words.i dont agree with paying them honestly. while they do need to learn the value of money, it is more important they first learn the value of family and doing thier part to help in the family. its more important to learn personal responsiblity. allowances can come much later. at 3 they should be willing to please and make mommy happy. positive reinforcement all the way. tell her how good she is, what a big helper she is and how proud you are of her, even if she doesnt do a perfect job, just tell her its great and help her fix what needs to be fixed. my daughter cleans with me. she helps with the dishes, she dusts, she picks up her toys, she makes her bed. she helps me when im doing laundry. i give her small tasks to do with me, and she likes to spend time with me, and she likes me to be proud of her. she's been doing this since she was tiny. shes 7 now, and typically i have no problems getting her to pick up her mess, or help me out. at school they taught my daughter the clean up song, and she would start singing it every time we would pick up. now she doesnt sing it lol, but she will still do it. there are alot of lessons to be learned while picking up after ourselves and helping around the house. team work, family importance, self responsibility, organization, etc. at the end of it all the child will feel proud of themselves as well. ohh basket ball nets over the laundry pail works wonders as well. its fun for them. if you can make it fun then make it fun. i never expect it to be perfect, and more often than not i would be in there fixing what my daughter tried to clean up, but at the very least she learned from it. i dont think she would be as easy going about doing this now if i wasnt this way with her from the beginning. i have seen my friends children who cannot or will not even throw out their own trash, or put thier own plates up after meals. my daughter isnt one of them. =)

HelluvaAngel - 918 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) They are never too young. It just take patience and consistancy on your part. My son was the same way as a toddler everything everywhere, and nothing in one piece he would demoltion ever toy he had. I stayed consistant on making him clean up after himself and now he is 10 yrs old and cleaning than me, and puts things I forget out away. When we go places and he plays with friends he will make comments on the way home about how dirty the kids rooms were and if they would have been clean then they would have been able to find the part to a certain toy they needed. It's pretty funny.

mother649808 - 918 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) My daughter has to clean up behind herself despite where that may be. If we are home or at someone elses home she knows how to clean up behind herself. We also drew little pics and posted them on each dresser drawer and she puts her own clothes away. We have made a little crayon chart that we check off when she's completed these things and if she does it all week she gets $5. Usually she wants a new toy so she saves her money until she has enough! It turned out to be enough incentive for her to keep things clean!

readyfornumber2 - 918 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I don't think that she is too young to be taught to pick up her toys. Make it a game you both play everyday. Turn on some music and dance while you pick them up.

mummyyumyum - 919 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) My daughter is almost 5 now and I have been making her clean and tidy up her own toys since about age 18 mos. There are times when she does not tidy them properly and each time I explain that she is very lucky to have all the toys that she does and I tell her that if she doesnt look after her toys properly than I will take them away. I also make it clear that I dont make idle threats, when she repeatedly doesnt take care of her toys, I pick a few things and I take them away and put them in the loft for a week or so until she behaves and looks after her toys again and once she does this she gets her toys back. Its never to early I dont think to teach children responsibility, my little one is responsible for her own room and for looking after her toys, it has a positive effect because when she has done a good job of tidying up she is excited and proud of herself and cant wait to show me. It might seem harsh to others, but I plan on giving her small chores and responsibilities as she gets older, and in return she will get rewards. I hope this helps, but obviously you must do what you think is best for you and your daughter, this is just what works for me xx