Tidy
Toddlers: How Soon Is Too Soon?
Is 3 years old too early to expect toddlers to tidy their toys away?
You've
just trodden on a Lego brick for the fifth time this morning. Had enough?
Want him to pull his weight? Right now it's more about attitude than results.
Toddlers
= clutter
Toddlers generate mess. Tidiness is something they've got to learn. It's
a task some find easier than others. You can start teaching tidiness from
the moment he can walk by encouraging your child to help you tidy up but
don't expect miracles.
Don't
nag
Your toddler is busy trying to fathom out how the world ticks. If you
want him to be tidy, barking orders will only make him frightened and
resentful. Nagging is counterproductive. Your toddler has an attention
span of about 30 seconds so don't get frustrated if he's distracted.
Don't expect him to always cooperate, especially if he's tired or sick.
It's your home, not a showhouse
You can't have a family and have a house that's
constantly tidy. So relax and lower your standards a bit. Try not to get
in a mess in the first place, by restricting the number of toys out at
any one time. Avoid toys that come in lots of tiny pieces. Try not to
buy too many toys and pass old ones on as soon as you're sure he's outgrown
them - toy libraries are a great source of temporary toys. If possible
keep one area of the house toddler (and mess) free.
|
