Schedule / RoutineOne of the things that really changed for me after motherhood was the perpetual state of disaster that seemingly took over my house time and time again.
I would clean, tidy, and clean some more.
And yet, everything was a bit of a mess shortly thereafter.
This is what I like to call the perpetual state of disaster that is motherhood.
To be honest, my house is far from perfect on a daily basis, but there is one thing that helped immensely when it came to keeping things at least marginally clean:
I taught my son to pick up the toys without nagging, begging or bribing. I wasn’t having to tame temper tantrums each time we needed to pick up. Really, it’s been a lovely change.
How I discovered this one simple trick.
Months and months ago, we started attending library time in our local area. We sang songs, read short books, and enjoyed simple movement games and tasks like Ring Around the Rosy and Hands, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.
Overall, it was a really good experience for him to learn through play, while at the same time being around other children.
I did notice one thing though…
At the beginning of each library time, the librarian set out a small number of toys on the floor for the children to play with before starting story time. They played and got warmed up while she got the rest of her fun things ready.
When it was time to clean up, she did something I hadn’t heard before. She sang this song called, “Put the Toys in the Bucket.”
It was brilliant actually, and I was thrilled to hear a song besides the good ‘ole standby Barney “Clean Up Song” from years ago.
The “Put the Toys in the Bucket” song goes like this…
Put the toys in the bucket, in the bucket.
Put the toys in the bucket, in the bucket.
Put the toys in the bucket, put the toys in the bucket.
Put the toys in the bucket, in the bucket.
Repeat x 3.
We took this song home with us and started using it for just about EVERYTHING. It’s something about this song that just clicks with kids. Maybe it’s because you are using the actual words of what you want your child to do, rather than simply say “clean up.”
I’ll give you an example of what I mean:
My son spilled Craisins on the floor the other day and we changed the song to “put the Craisins in the bag, in the bag.”
You can use this song with just about anything you want your toddler to help put away. Sometimes he helps with laundry and we sing “put the clothes in the basket, in the basket.”
Why do songs work so well for toddlers anyway…
Music is a great tool for children to understand language better. I find songs particularly helpful if your child is a little bit behind developmentally in language (raises hand). The music makes words (and actions that follow) easier to both learn and comprehend.
Repetition, comprehension.
When a toddler is able to memorize what a phrase means, it means he will start understand the actual meaning. The more phrases a toddler can easily understand the less frustrating their surrounding world becomes.
The other reason repetitive songs are the best thing ever, is that toddlers are able to enjoy mastery. Toddlers LOVE mastery.
So when we use music to turn cleaning up into a fun game, which is easy to succeed at, cleaning up becomes enjoyable for toddlers! This encourages them to be much more helpful and compliant.
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a perfect process in our home every day. It is nice to have my toddler help out at least some of the time with keeping the home tidy. It makes days of tantrums or listening challenges or night wakings easier to overcome, when at least one area of our life is going particularly well—cleaning up.
Print this free toddler listening checklist.
This post comes with a free printable checklist to help with toddler listening. I always have the hardest time remembering these phrases. This printable simplifies it!
Here is a sneak preview…
Download Your Free Printable
- Download the checklist. You’ll get the printable, plus join 20,000+ parents who receive my weekly parenting tips and ideas!
- Print. Any paper will do the trick, but card stock
would be ideal. - Place it on your refrigerator. Check things off as you go and don’t forget a thing!
would be ideal.
Want more on toddlers?
- Dear Moms of Toddlers
- 9 Phrases that Change Life with a Toddler
- 10 Empowering Ways to Improve Toddler Listening
- What No One Tells You About Parenting Toddler Boys
What’s your best tip to get your toddler to pick up toys? Let’s chat in the comments!
I've created a free email series just for you! If you are struggling with finding a routine, rhythm or schedule, this email series will help you find one that will work for YOUR family. Yes, really. I've seen my sample routines work time and time again for parents. I know it can work for you too.
This free email series will help you:
- Free sample routines for your child
- Best morning routine tips and tricks your kids will actually follow
- All-time favorite parenting hacks for getting more cooperation at bedtime
- Step-by-step guide for using a printable daily schedule with kids
Appreciate your content. Thanks for sharing me helpful content.
I would love to hear the song as well. There is no video on the site that I can find.
When Your kids are very good behaviour all the time and always taking good care of their things, keeping their rooms very clean, loving their favorite things and want to make nice childhood collections of their things: books, clothes, toys, video games, clothes, DVDs and etc, then donataing is very wrong thing to do. If You have few space then storage boxes and shelves will help You out and Your kids will be very happy then, if they can keep their favourite things. Childhood things are very valuable and it is very sad, if they won’t see them anymore in Your life. Every child should have the right to keep their things if they can take care of them all time!!!
Great tips thanks from a new childminding Nana! What’s the tune to the ‘Put the toys in bucket’ song please?