• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Because dads don’t always think like moms™

  • Dad
    • Celebrities
    • Gay Dads
    • Sex
    • Single Dads
  • Pregnancy
    • Labor or Delivery
    • Pregnant Wife
  • Baby
    • Baby Naming
    • Feeding
    • Sleep
    • Toilet Training
  • Kids
  • Teens
  • Activities
    • Local
    • By Age
    • Movie Reviews
    • Celebrations
  • Toys
    • We Recommend
    • Toys
  • Coaching for Dads
  • Great Dad Talks Podcast

Cleaning up their Mess

February 20, 2007 by GreatDad Writers Leave a Comment

Are you tired of your kids acting like royalty around the
house? Making a mess of their rooms as they throw away their clothes and food, expecting you to go
picking after them?

Enough is enough – pull yourself out of the mess by teaching your
toddlers to help. Its time for Operation Clean Up!As a
parent, the following steps will certainly help with the clean up:

  • STEP 1: Make an announcement. Let your toddlers know that it’s
    time to clean up. Give them a specific place to put the toys – a plastic tub or a toy box will do
    fine. Place the container in the middle of the room.
  • STEP 2: Using a loud voice, say “Look at this huge mess. Is there anyone who can help
    me?” as you are setting the container down. A toddler’s attention tends to pick up this tone. You
    can also make up and sing a cleanup song to get them into the swing. Remember to be happy and
    positive about the task.
  • STEP 3: By means of
    demonstration, pick up some toys on the floor and place them in the container. All the while you can
    continue with the singing and coaxing.
  • STEP 4: Now is the time to ask your children to
    (please) pick up a specific toy. Thank them when they start placing toys in your hand or in the
    container.
  • STEP 5: Always keep a back-up plan,
    as a consequence for not helping. Give them a timeout or better still, you can threaten to take away
    one of their treasured items till they start cleaning up.
  • STEP 6: Warn the toddlers only once and then follow through with the consequence they
    don’t help.
  • STEP 7: Continue cleaning up the
    toys until all of the toys are picked up.

Filed Under: Preschool

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Great Dad Talks

Great Dad Talks
Great Dad Talks

Great Dad Talks is a series of conversations with experts on all aspects of the family adventure. With the perspective that “dads don’t always think like moms,” our mission is to support dad voices and our slightly different approaches to parenting. We’ll try to find solutions to every day challenges like getting kids off the couch and making STEM classes available for both boys and girls. But we’ll also tackle bigger issues when they come. The one main theme will be to support dads in the most important role of their lives that of being a great dad. Connect with us at greatdad.com and watch the video version of these podcasts at YouTube.com/greatdadnews

145. Understanding Children’s Emotional Needs with Dr. David Marcus
byPaul Banas

Today we delve into the complexities of fatherhood with David Marcus, Ph.D., an expert with over forty years of experience working with families and children. In this enlightening conversation, we explore the essential components of communicating with your child, focusing on the development of a common emotional language. Learn about the four assumptions of emotionality that parents often make and discover strategies to foster a safe and open environment for meaningful conversations at any age.

Check out Dr. Marcus’ website at parentrx.org

Visit these links and embark on the path to becoming the best parent you can be:

– GreatDad.com/coaching 

– GreatDad.com/pq 

– Gratitude course: bit.ly/3NMLDNC  

50% off for podcast listeners with code PODCAST50

145. Understanding Children’s Emotional Needs with Dr. David Marcus
145. Understanding Children’s Emotional Needs with Dr. David Marcus
May 13, 2025
Paul Banas
144. Exploring Mindful Fatherhood with Odeani Mc Bean
May 6, 2025
Paul Banas
143. Overcoming Dad Burnout with Scott Anderson
April 29, 2025
Paul Banas
142. Building Resilient Kids with Dr. Richard Oelberger
April 24, 2025
Paul Banas
141. Exploring Men’s Sexual Health with Dr. Elliot Justin
April 22, 2025
Paul Banas
140. Instilling Values and Financial Literacy with Barclay Roper
April 15, 2025
Paul Banas
139. Adaptive Cooking Tools and Techniques with Douglas Katz
April 8, 2025
Paul Banas
138. Exploring Masculinity and Men’s Groups with Jason Lange
April 1, 2025
Paul Banas
137. Modern Tech for Kids with Damien Schreurs
March 25, 2025
Paul Banas
136. Addressing the Gender Education Gap with Sean Kullman
March 18, 2025
Paul Banas
Search Results placeholder

More to See

Barclay Roper and Paul Banas on Great Dad Talks

Instilling Values and Financial Literacy with Barclay Roper

April 17, 2025 By Paul Banas

Adaptive Cooking Tools and Techniques with Douglas Katz

April 24, 2025 By Paul Banas

Copyright © 2025 . GreatDad