? about putting toys away

I have a big container that I keep all their toys in, in the living room. They also have a cupboard in the kitchen that I keep unlocked for them with all safe stuff for them to explore and play with (tupperware, old baby bottles, empty water bottles, etc.). They love to take lots of things out of both of these places and although I'm trying to teach the concept of cleaning up, they obviously don't quite get it yet and I don't push it to hard cause I don't think they are developmentally ready to understand (though I will keep attempting to help them try and understand). My ? is, when they make this big mess, how often do YOU clean up their stuff. I don't want to just put out a couple of toys and nothing else because I like for them to be able to choose what they would like to play with. Do you just leave it all till the end of the day and then do the clean up or while they take each nap? Or do you pick it up every 20 min or so. I'm just worried that it seems so chaotic with so much stuff around and I don't know if it's unhealthy for them to play in an environment of mess or if I'm just being crazy and trying to keep things overly organized. What do you think? What do you do?

 

I do my best to pick things up in between naps but if I forget, I forget. I would just take it as it comes. Kids are really bad about picking up after themselves anyway. Even if you teach it from day one

 

I do like Sarah, pick them up at naptime.

 

when they are in bed at night

 

At night once they are in bed.

 

We pick up periodically throughout the day but sometime s we don't pick up at all until the end. Our house is constantly a chaotic mess of toys, pots, spoons etc, I have completely given up on any hope of keeping it tidy

 

I usually try to pick up, do a couple loads of laundry, etc while they're napping. Or if they're happy in the high chairs munching on some crackers, I might make a pass through the house. I found some perfect-sized laundry baskets with wheels, and I have one in each room of the house for toys. It's not overly organized, but at least they have a place to go to get off the floor. I usually *try* to get it all cleaned up before dh gets home from work, just b/c I know it's more relaxing for him. Doesn't always happen, though!!

 

I pick up during nap time, they seem to like a cleaner house, and they are always pleasantly surprised to find a box of toys to play with! It's like Christmas a couple times a day.

 

We pick up after they are done playing and before we go on to something else (lunch/naps/going out.) And while they aren't old enough to help, we want them to see us picking up the toys so that they don't think that the toys magically put themselves away!

We also do this at mealtime. After they eat, we leave them in their highchairs while we clean up from the meal and talk about what we are doing (rinsing out the bowls, putting spoons in the dishwasher, etc.)

 

We clean up right before nap and bed times. Yes, I end up doing 99% of putting away the toys...but they are beginning to understand a little. My DS actually helps with the blocks now. I mainly want them to get in the habit of putting things away when they are done playing. Plus they or someone else could get hurt if the toys are left out on the floor...and they have more playing room.

 

Naps and bedtime here. I put everything away, but I like to let them "pick" things out. I keep some toys in bins, but others in plain view. They pick and choose what they want.

 

We pick up at the end of the day after the girls go to bed. But if they make a bigger mess then normal I'll pick a few things up during nap time.

 

I put their toys in 4 bins (except for the playtables and big ball toys). I only pull one bin (12x24) out at a time. I make sure there is a mix of talking toys/balls/plush/bowls and sensory in each bin. When they seem sick of the toys - usually mid day - I pick them up and get the next bin down. You'd think it was Christmas morning. This way I don't have a TON of toys all over my living room and their interest is kept IMO. Less toys to pick up at night as well. HTH

 

I usually picked up the toys after they went to bed and would sometimes just leave it for the next night if I didn't feel like it. The girls always managed to find what they wanted.