Kids Clean Up Part 2: Keeping it clean

Today is the second in my two part series of getting your kids to clean up their toys. Yesterday, I talked about organization of toys so that they had a place to belong and streamlining the amount of toys so there wasn't so many to deal with it. If you missed it you can check it out here. 


Now that the toys all have a home we can talk about how to keep them picked up and put away. I think the key to most parenting issues is consistency. When it comes to getting the toys picked up a good part of it is warnings, reminders and regular pick up times. Wait, I know I promised yesterday that you wouldn't sound like a nag, so please just hear me out. 


What I have discovered over the years is any toys left out (especially in their rooms where I'm not the one tripping over it) when the kids leave the room will most likely stay left out and we all know that clutter mysteriously multiplies quickly leaving you with a horrible mess. So, in order to avoid this give your kids a 10-15 minute warning and tell them it is clean up time. If you wait until dinnertime, bedtime or time to walk out the door it will only add stress and most likely the toys will be left out. But if about 10 -15 minutes before the next activity you establish pick up time as a transition things will go much smoother, especially if you are consistent and make this a habit. 


Also start random cleaning up sessions. With my kids I called it a "10 Second Tidy" like on the Big Comfy Couch. When you notice that they have moved on to a toy or two and the previous ones are still left out have everyone stop what they are playing with and put everything away. Yes, everything including the current playthings. (Of course you can use discretion if the kids are working on an intricate puzzle or complicated Leggo creation, but find a way for it to be up or away without being destroyed.) Your kids will resist this, but in my experience when we stop and clean up and I allow them to leave the current toy out about 80% of the time it remains out and they do not go back to it. Once everything is picked up they can get it back out and continue playing. These random checks help keep small messes from turning into huge disaster areas.


The biggest part of getting them to do it without argument is to make it fun. First off I know too well if Mom is dreading clean up time, the kids are definitely not going to want to do it either, so try to add some variety and make it as fun as possible. Here are some ways to make cleaning less of a chore and more of a game:

• Set a timer and see how much can get done before it goes off
• Pick a random number and have everyone pick up that many toys (such as 11 or 27)
• If your kids are competitive have a race to see who can pick up their number of toys first, or who can pick up the most before the timer goes off
• Assign each kid a color of toy to pick up. This is a little more interesting than having Sally pick up all the blocks and Johnny pick up all the cars.

Even if you are successful in establishing these habits, you and your kids will have to periodically throw away broken toys, give away out grown or unloved toys and go through artwork and school work in order to keep the kids' stuff from taking over the entire house.  A member of the Flylady's crew, Kelly, has kid challenges in which she gives kids a special cleaning mission. These range from walk around your house and find all of your books that are laying around and put them away to find 10 toys that you no longer play with and give them to mom or dad to bless someone else with. You can make up your own missions or you can just use Kelly's. Even if you don't want to follow the Flylady plan yourself you can check out what the Flykid challenge is on Kelly's facebook page.

Like anything else it will probably take time to establish these habits in both yourself and your kids. It will also take consistency, so don't give up if you have a bad day, just jump back in. 

Thank you Flylady and Flylady Kelly

Rainy Day Activities

April Showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring cranky kids that want to go outside and play. So,  I thought this would be a good time to share some projects and activities to make being staying inside fun.


Arts and crafts:

• Finger paint
• Sock puppets
• paper bag puppets
• Paper plate masks
• Make paper grocery bag costumes 

Sensory activities:

• Make and play with homemade play dough
• Play with shaving cream
• Make "Monster goo" a mixture of corn starch and just enough water to make it liquidy but still have resistance.

Fine motor skill activities:

• Create your own lacing cards 
• Make Fruit Loops necklaces or bracelets
• Make beaded jewelry (if age appropriate)
• Make a paper chain countdown calender to countdown to s special day or event (last day of school, birthday, grandparent's visit, etc.)

Large motor skill games and activities:

• Simon says
• Have a dance party
• Follow the leader
• Duck, duck, goose

Imaginative play:

• Put on a puppet show with your homemade puppets
• Have a picnic in your living room
• Have an indoor "day at the beach"
• Make a blanket fort

Explore the great outdoors with your kids

Now that spring has finally sprung, well for the most part, it's time to get outside and show your kids the wonders of spring. I've compiled a short list of outdoor activities to enjoy now that sun is shining and weather is warmer. Most of these activities are free or almost free. Many are  things you might have enjoyed as a kid but may have forgotten. 

• Look for new spring flowers, then either let them grow, pick and press them for an art project or take a photo to use in a art project or scrapbook.
• Fly a kite
• Make chalk drawings
• Teach your kids how to play hopscotch or Four Square
• Blow bubbles
• Set up a water table
• Have a picnic lunch
• Look for shapes in the clouds
• On a warm evening look for constellations
• Discover a new park
• Go for a bike ride 
• Set up an obstacle course
• Have a relay race
• Splash in the puddles
• Make mud pies
• Plant flower or vegetable seeds or seedlings

What are your favorite springtime outdoor activities to do with your kids? Please feel free to share your experiences with the above ideas or share your own ideas. 

School is starting

It's hard for me to believe school is starting next week. Where did the summer go? I have decided that when school starts I will start homeschooling preschool with my 3 year old. The problem is I have not yet decided what or how I am gong to do it.

I am thinking that I will do it 4 to five days a week for about an hour or two depending on his attention span and what we are working on. During the months he has story time we will only do it four days that week, the rest of the time five because that is just too much in one day for a little kid.

My main problem is coming up with lesson plans that aren't too complex or projects that I are above his ability. I used to be a daycare teacher and I was required to come up with lesson plans for different stations in a classroom of of 10-15 children. So, I need to reign things back a bit to keep it fun and exciting and not like I am putting him though toddler boot camp.
I have some material already and some things in mind, but any suggests would be appreciated

Kid Time- Play with your kids

This sounds like a no brainer right? I mean who doesn't play with their kids? Actually you'd be surprised a lot of people don't. And actually do YOU?
Do your kids play while you are busy doing housework , checking email or are on the phone?  Do you play with them when you go to the park or do you spend your time talking to other parents? These things are fine and necessary,  (yes, if you are home all day with kids chatting with other moms becomes a necessity), but playing WITH your kids is important too.
Lots of parents, including myself have gotten caught up into making sure that playtime with their kids is a planned event that is education and "worthwhile." These activities are great too, but don't let details get you bogged down and keep you from enjoying your kids.
Yes, independent play is an important skill and you are not your child's personal entertainment. But playing with your kids for just a short time a day is beneficial to both of you. 
Playing with your kids can be simple. Just grab a car, train or doll that they are playing with and join in. Don't worry if you feel dorky your kids won't care. Make some with play-doh instead of it letting your kids have all the fun.Help your baby stack blocks or race your preschooler to the tree and back.
If you can throw some extra learning in (For example: here's a blue block or now lets race from the short to the tall tree) that great but don't over think it. Just spending the time with your child and making it about him or her will be more essential in the long run. You will help build social skills and confidence. Also if you give your kids some uninterrupted time quality time they are less likely to nag you to death later just for attention. Plus you'll just feel happier and better about your self as a parent.
Well I have two little boys waiting to get outside and PLAY!