How to get your Toddler to Clean Up!

We had a fun trip to Wal-Mart this morning to pick up a few odds and ends.  Then we did lots of playing today.  It wasn't the best of weather today and it stormed REALLY bad this afternoon.  Miss Olivia slept through the whole storm!

So we did lots of inside activities today.  The focus of most of this post is cleaning up.  Olivia is messy.  Let's just face it- she doesn't realize what a tornado she is.  She goes from one toy, book, puzzle, etc. to another.  Most nights and days the house looks like it has been hit by a toddler tornado.  There are blocks and parts of toys all over.  We really have been working on her cleaning up after herself.  When she finishes playing with something we try to have her clean it up so it is not all over the place.  I must say she is getting better at it.  Yesterday when she finished her snack she walked the bowl all the way back to the kitchen by herself without being asked saying, "All done!" and trying to put the bowl on the counter.  Today she found a pad of sticky notes on the floor and without being asked opened the correct drawer they were in and put them away.  There is no trick, but some diligence in showing them and modeling a few times on how to put stuff away.  She loves to help with the dishwasher (only the safe items) and likes to put the laundry in the dryer when I hand it to her.  Olivia has also started cleaning up at places like Kindermusik and Gymboree.  We put the instruments or equipment where the teachers ask us to.  The thing about it there is no reward when she does it.  Most of the time we tell her that she did a great job or that she is a good helper or a good girl for helping.  We sometimes give her a high 5 or a hug and a kiss for it.  Hopefully it will continue in the future!

Olivia the toddler tornado!

Messy bedroom!

All Clean! Olivia the super cleaner!