How to Make It Easier to Clean Up After Your Children

I used to spend a good part of my day cleaning up after my three children but with these tips I was able to reduce that time down to an hour per day.

Purchase some simple plastic bins at your local department store or even a dollar store.  They don’t have to be huge but they do have to be a decent size.  They need to at least be big enough to cart a pair of shoes in.  Label each bin with a permanent black marker or if you have a handy label maker that will work as well.  I prefer the black permanent marker because you can label them in large letters.  Label each bin with the name of one of your children.

Take the bins and make a quick pit stop in each main room of your house.  I usually start in the living room since my entertainment center seems to be the drop all for my children’s things.  I put each child’s things in their designated bin.  This usually takes about five to fifteen minutes depending on the amount of “stuff” they have left out and about.  This time can vary depending on the number of children you have.  Once you have finished placing their things in their designated bins deliver them to their rooms for them to put away after school or once their homework is finished. 

On the weekend you can enlist the help of your children to clean up their own things using their bins.  I make it a game called the stash and trash dash.  I put one bin in the middle of the house labeled trash and the kids not only have to put their things in their bins but also have to put any trash or dirty dishes in the trash bin.  Whoever collects the most trash or the least amount of stash wins a prize.   I have rewarded the younger children with things from our trinket chest, a decorated shoe box with coupons for special rewards and items I have purchased from the local dollar store, and the older kids get money or a treat trip as I call it.  A treat trip is out for a sundae or ice cream from the Dairy Queen.  This gets them a treat as well as one on one time with their mom. 
This has proven to improve my children’s tendency to pick up their things each night instead of waiting till the weekend.  This has made it less of a struggle during the week for me to put their things in their labeled bins for them to put away after school.

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