Need ideas about housecleaning & kids

[Dajemadger]

I feel like I've tried everything to get the kids to help me clean up everyday. I've made it into a game, I've done song & dance, I've been consistent everyday, I've made it age appropriate (I think). I've tried giving an individual job (one gets garbage, one gets toys), I've tried specific smaller areas, I've tried having individual spots for all the toys and I've tried just having a bin to throw everything in. Over a year ago we put 80% of the toys in a locked closet and they only have out a few things to be responsible for and yet they still just don't want to take care of them. It just turns into a battle. We don't use timeouts (other than a "you hit you sit" rule) but I've tried timeouts (like sit here until you are ready to come help us again) I've tried doing it all myself and having fun so that they might want to join me. I've tried tossing all the toys in a bag and putting them in the closet.

So my kids are 5.5, 3.5 and 15mos (and I'm 6 mos prg). I really don't expect much, I don't think. My 5 yr old is supposed to take care of her playsilks, her few princess dolls, her papers (she loves to draw constantly) and her markers. I don't expect her to remember to do that on her own, but when I say "it's clean up time...you can clean up X or Y first." I feel like she should be able to pick one and go clean it up. My 3.5 yr old only has his blocks and cars. My 15 mos old doesn't have anything, he actually likes to help put things away so he's my helper. Oh and their dirty clothes need to go in the hamper and STAY in the hamper until wash day. We only clean up once a day, and the amount of stuff would take 10 minutes if we all worked together, but I end up doing it all while they play or make another mess behind me.

This is the one thing that I just get so angry about. I just don't understand what else to do. What am I missing????

TIA

[cdmommie]

I try to keep things cleaned up by planning a couple of super fun things that will happen throughout the day and then explaining that we can not do X until everything from earlier is cleaned up.

The trick is ONE. ACTIVITY. AT. A. TIME. Period.

They can freeplay in the room, but we will not do our Art project until the room has been cleaned. Then if she wants to play a computer game, everything from the painting must be cleaned up first. And yes, sometimes there are melt downs, but I just wait it out and when she's done melting down we clean up. Have patience and try to stay relaxed. Once you get them in the routine it should just kinda flow everyday (most days).

Then going outside is the big one. EVERYTHING must be clean before we set foot out of the house for anything. Park, store, ect. It doesn't matter where we are going, if it involves waling out that door, everything needs to be done: Dishes, fish fed, rooms clean, ect.

But really, the one thing at a time helps a lot!