Tidy Up Time!
May 30th 2007 10:58
I've made Callum breakfast, had mine, got Daz' lunch ready for him, got showered and dressed, made the beds, fed the fish, checked the post and a whole bunch of other stuff. All I've asked of Callum is to tidy up the bucket full of cars tipped over the front room floor and choose what clothes he wants to wear today.
So do you think Callum is dressed and toys tidied away yet?
Nope! LOL! In fact looking around I think there is even more toy mess than earlier.
Looks like it's time to put into action "Operation Toy Race".
As other parents, child-minders and like will agree with me there is nearly always a battle to get toys tidied up and because of this you learn ways in which to make it happen. In no particular order here are some that we use, feel free to add your own I may well need use of them.
1. Bribery - This is quite often used in our household. You can use anything to be the bribe. For example: This morning Callum has asked for some sweets, I've simply told him, "Tidy up the cars and you can. Don't tidy up, no sweets." Some times it works and others it doesn't. This morning it clearly isn't as I'm here typing away with toys all scattered over the place and the trip to the park being cancelled as it's raining now. Other forms of bribery have been toys when trying to get Callum to sleep through the night to seeing his cousins if he behaves for a day.
2. Threats - This is the final straw and mostly involves Callum loosing something like a favourite toy or in the case of the other week when he went of a tantrum rage he lost playschool for a day.
3. Making a Game of it - As I mentioned above "Operation Toy Race". We'll take the bucket of cars as an example. Basically we have a race to see who puts the most away in the quickest time. It's a fun mad rush and on occasions a prize is awarded, anything from a big cuddle to a sweetie to a tickle. And that is given to whoever wins, not just Callum. There are other games we play (and you'll notice that most of Callum's toys relate to cars or trains). There is the making a story out of tidying up, the speeding down the race track into the bucket game and so on.
4. Just do it yourself - sometimes you just have to resort to this but on occasions it works and Callum will come and help.
I'm sure I'm forgetting some and I'd love to hear other suggestions.
So do you think Callum is dressed and toys tidied away yet?
Nope! LOL! In fact looking around I think there is even more toy mess than earlier.
Looks like it's time to put into action "Operation Toy Race".
As other parents, child-minders and like will agree with me there is nearly always a battle to get toys tidied up and because of this you learn ways in which to make it happen. In no particular order here are some that we use, feel free to add your own I may well need use of them.
1. Bribery - This is quite often used in our household. You can use anything to be the bribe. For example: This morning Callum has asked for some sweets, I've simply told him, "Tidy up the cars and you can. Don't tidy up, no sweets." Some times it works and others it doesn't. This morning it clearly isn't as I'm here typing away with toys all scattered over the place and the trip to the park being cancelled as it's raining now. Other forms of bribery have been toys when trying to get Callum to sleep through the night to seeing his cousins if he behaves for a day.
2. Threats - This is the final straw and mostly involves Callum loosing something like a favourite toy or in the case of the other week when he went of a tantrum rage he lost playschool for a day.
3. Making a Game of it - As I mentioned above "Operation Toy Race". We'll take the bucket of cars as an example. Basically we have a race to see who puts the most away in the quickest time. It's a fun mad rush and on occasions a prize is awarded, anything from a big cuddle to a sweetie to a tickle. And that is given to whoever wins, not just Callum. There are other games we play (and you'll notice that most of Callum's toys relate to cars or trains). There is the making a story out of tidying up, the speeding down the race track into the bucket game and so on.
4. Just do it yourself - sometimes you just have to resort to this but on occasions it works and Callum will come and help.
I'm sure I'm forgetting some and I'd love to hear other suggestions.
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Tracy
Comment by katyzzz
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How about 'progressive' tidy up, put that and that and that away and then I'll get out something else to play. As 3 -1=2, eventuallly you'll be tidy.
How about, Nana or ???? is coming, she wants things to be tidy so she can move around.
Have a collection of special toys that only get brought out occasionally, that can be used as an inducement for tidying up what is already flung around.
Close your eyes and Pray?
Thank God you'll see another day.
The sun'll come out tomorrer, as Annie used to sing.
Tomorrer is only a day away!
For what it's worth,
katyzzz
Comment by Sarah White
coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars
Parenting full stop can be exhausting but it's worth it all. Weekends I get a good rest as hubby is at home.
Take Care.
Sarah. xxx
Comment by Sarah White
coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars
Oh yes the good old "compromise/progressive" tidy up. That one works well and is often used in this household.
And I do often close my eyes and pray that everything will magically be tidied up... which gives me an idea of another game way of tidying up, I'll have to experiment...
Thank you for popping by.
Take Care.
Sarah. xxx