Putting Things Away & Keeping Own Room Tidy

I have three kids too (8,5 and 2) and it feels like I'm constantly cleaning up after them. Sometimes it feels easier to do it myself than to make them do it but when I get angry enough about it this always works. I bought a big purple container from Target and I tell the kids, what ever is left out at the end of the night goes in there and I'm taking it to charity. Needless to say, everything gets cleaned up. If they are leaving out clothes or something else I tell them if they don't pick it up I will go into their room and choose something to put in the purple bin. I have had this purple bin for years and it sits empty but it's the best money I ever spent! I just have to remember to 'use' it more!

I had this same problem with 1 of my 3 boys as they were growing up. Anything left laying around the house, or the floor of his bedroom, was placed in a garbage bag which I hid in storage space we have in the rafters. Prior to beginning this practice, I told my son that anything, and I mean anything, left where it didn't belong would be given to charity. That box got pretty full and he began running low on clothes, but he finally got the message and began picking up after himself. As I recall, it took several weeks for the message to sink in (my son was, and still is, very stubborn). Once he "got it", I returned all his possessions and we never had to repeat the exercise.
Tell your kids that it's not just disgusting to look at, but can encourage "critters" to invade. If there is any residue on or in their clothing that appeals to the insect world, you could end up with a problem, which is what happened to us. Thanks to my son hiding food wrappers (mostly candy) under his mattress and bedding and in clothing pockets, our home became infested with spiders and ants. I had to have an exterminator come and clear the place, which is what prompted the garbage bags in the attic.
Good luck.

I have told my boys (7 and 9) that unless the house is reasonably tidy I won't allow anyone to come into our home. They spent about 2 weeks with no playdates and then decided it was time to put their things away. They seem to be trying to continue to keep things mostly put away now too, though I don't know how long that will last!!! Good luck...

Hi M.. I have the same thing with my 3 oldest children. They never pick up after themselves or keep their rooms tidy. A sticker chart has worked with the younger 2 and its has got better. The oldest a boy is 12 1/2 and even after spending a whole day with him doing his room within a few hours the next day it looked like a bomb site.

I have also tried it the other way and left it for weeks without saying anything, this only worked when he found out he had no clean uniform for school as i had not pick it up off the floor and wash it. He is still messy but he has a friend who is worse and yes I have seen their room and am glad he is not that messy.

They are not allowed friends round unless their rooms are tidy and the saying in our house is ..If you want to keep it then put it away or I will throw it away. this works very well in keeping the rest of the house tidy but not their rooms. Try a family meeting they are all older enough.

But at the end of the day it is their room and if they want it messy then fine, and they will have to learn the hard way. Stay calm and as long as the rest of the house is ok for you to have your friends round so be it. Good luck.

I really like the chart idea. Make sure it is very simple and easy to follow and it has a REWARD at the end of the week - very important. Let the kids chose the reward they want. Also make sure they get daily verbal and visual (stickers) rewards too. Also, if they mess up one day don't let the previous days not count-so maybe have a chart with 3 things per day and to get a reward at the end of the week they must have 15 stickers on it. This should work well for the age group you have. I am an elementary school teacher and this works well for me and for the parents I encourage to use it. Good luck to you!

I am right there with you.... Are women the only ones who care?