Just wanted to share this in case it would benefit anyone else. I've discovered that my 4.5-year-old is much more likely to clean up something I've asked him to clean up if I leave him alone to do it.
I discovered this by accident, but tonight I did it on purpose and it worked. A couple of times in the past, I asked him to clean something up and he refused to do it. Then I left the room for one thing or another--only to return and discover that he had actually cleaned it up while I was absent!
Tonight he dumped out an entire box of toys right before bedtime. I cleaned up half, asking him to help all the while (with him saying no). Then I said--I'm going in the other room and you let me know when you're done picking up, & then we can go to bed. Then I went in my room and read a book.
He did it! Called me when he was done, & then went to bed with no issues.
So--in his case at least, he doesn't want to be "watched" (and perhaps commented on) while he puts away toys. Or maybe it is embarassing to be watched. (I know I wouldn't like it!) Either way, I am going to keep on experimenting with this and see what happens.
I discovered this by accident, but tonight I did it on purpose and it worked. A couple of times in the past, I asked him to clean something up and he refused to do it. Then I left the room for one thing or another--only to return and discover that he had actually cleaned it up while I was absent!
Tonight he dumped out an entire box of toys right before bedtime. I cleaned up half, asking him to help all the while (with him saying no). Then I said--I'm going in the other room and you let me know when you're done picking up, & then we can go to bed. Then I went in my room and read a book.
He did it! Called me when he was done, & then went to bed with no issues.
So--in his case at least, he doesn't want to be "watched" (and perhaps commented on) while he puts away toys. Or maybe it is embarassing to be watched. (I know I wouldn't like it!) Either way, I am going to keep on experimenting with this and see what happens.
