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.
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!
Very true! I used to be in charge of our church’s nursery, and a cleanup song worked wonders for us too. It kind of just puts young ones in a cooperative trance! 🙂
I agree 🙂
Hi Lauren. I came across this site a few days back and decided to subscribe in your list. When I read this article I immediately tried this song with my 2 year old boy when we clean up his toys before bedtime and it did work wonders. He happily put away his toys while I was singing. Just want to say thank you for sharing this.
You are so welcome! I was a little reluctant to post that video because I am not a singer. Ha. Thanks for leaving such an encouraging comment.
Can you please fix the video? I really want to use this song but don’t know the tune! P.S. Your material is excellent. One of my very favorite blogs because it’s practical and applicable.
Hi, I can’t find the video!? Please help. I need this song!!! 😂
I am not seeing the video of the song. ?
Sorry Tawna. Yes, I need to fix that!
I’m not seeing the video either
Ill have ago at this tip for my 2 and a half yr old daughter thanks! She just plays with toys then walks away and does it again sigh…
Do you have a link to the video?
I don’t see the video…..
I’d love to see the video so I can get the right tune.
Can you upload the video for the song again?
Wow! It worked like a charm. Thank you.
I’d love to know the tune but can’t find the video…
Yes, is the song based on another tune, e.g. Albuquerque is a Turkey ala Oh My Darling Clementine?
I strongly recommend that you please all be so kind and let the children keep things that they really have been dealing with all the time and love them so much so far!!!If you see that children love these things very much and want to give up beloved things, then under no circumstances should you remove these things, and then not if they are already grownups and want to keep those things in mind in memory of childhood!!!If there really is no room, then just buy the storage boxes and the problem is solved!!! I also have many things at home, but I’ve been able to keep everything in good condition thanks to these storage boxes and I do not see any problem!!!If you can see that the kids are really good at keeping things up very well after dealing and the rooms are absolutely perfectly clean every day, please let them keep things until they really want it !!! If they can not clean it, then teach them and if they are cleaning everything, then keeping things is not a problem if there are big storage boxes.If children want to keep their things up,then let them do it !!! Children still want to make their own collections, videos and in the future they would definitely want to give their old things to their children !!!If there is no room at all, then take some things, but not all things, if they like their things very much !!! I consider collectibles of children’s things to be very valuable, because for some time they become rare and there is no way to get them again! I have a very big Disney collection in my home and there are other things too. I do not give anything away because these are my things!!! If I have decided to keep my childhood things, then I’ll keep them forever!!!I’m very experienced in childhood things and I know that things in childhood needs to be kept so that you can remember the old good times and in the future give them to your children!!!
Reminder and teachings for parents and children!!!