How do you do clean up?

So how do y'all do toy clean up? My kids start cleaning up and end up playing, or they start doing like Corbin did and acting dumb (me: pick up the train tracks. C: where? Me: Right by your hand. C: I don't see them.). It's particularly frustrating because I hate repeating myself and having them ignore me and I don't feel like waiting for them to do it because they won't and I want the living room cleaned up now now 18 years from now, lol. I can't complain too much, they're helpful with other stuff. Corbin chops vegetables, helps me cook, helps with laundry and such. Riley is great at wiping surfaces and will help with anything I ask generally. It's just picking up toys!

I have 3 boys (9, 7 and 1) and I'm prego with a girl. All I have to say is when you get the answer let me know!! All mine do the same thing. We've done every tactic you can think of to get them to stay focused but it's a war everytime   Sorryand i hope things get better.

We turn on the radio and race the clock.

We have two baskets in the living room. One for M, and one for K. When we "clean up" (twice a day, before lunch and before dinner) they each put their toys in their baskets. Before bed they have to take their basket to their room and put their toys away. I obviously help M, but K does it by herself.

We had a rule that only 3 toys were allowed out at once. It worked very, very well.

If my kids dont pick up once asked, they loose everything thats on the floor. Either to donations or to the toy timeout, which means they loose those toys for a month.
Once they can show me they can pick up the other stuff (that was not on the floor) they get it back.

I dont have issues that much anymore lol

Quoting Nicole Cubbedge:" I have 3 boys (9, 7 and 1) and I'm prego with a girl. All I have to say is when you get the answer let ... [snip!] ... done every tactic you can think of to get them to stay focused but it's a war everytime   Sorryand i hope things get better."

Lol at least I'm not alone.  

Quoting sassy chef:" We have two baskets in the living room. One for M, and one for K. When we "clean up" (twice a day, before ... [snip!] ... Before bed they have to take their basket to their room and put their toys away. I obviously help M, but K does it by herself. "

They don't have many toys that are specifically for one or the other of them, most toys are community toys...Riley cleans better than Corbin!

Quoting speaktruth2powr:" We had a rule that only 3 toys were allowed out at once. It worked very, very well."

I don't know how I could enforce that, I'm too busy around the house while they're playing..

Quoting crazy coupon lady:" If my kids dont pick up once asked, they loose everything thats on the floor. Either to donations or ... [snip!] ... me they can pick up the other stuff (that was not on the floor) they get it back. I dont have issues that much anymore lol"

I'm thinking I need to pack up most of their toys. They don't even have many but obviously it's more than they can clean up..

My son looks at me like I have 5 heads when I tell him to clean up his room. He acts as if it is the first time I have ever done this and the task is too hard to handle.

My oldest (5 almost) does his best. I end up picking up what he misses when the boys are in bed. I have a hard time going to bed knowing toys or any stuff is on the floor.

Quoting Lauralie89:" My oldest (5 almost) does his best. I end up picking up what he misses when the boys are in bed. I have a hard time going to bed knowing toys or any stuff is on the floor."

Thats me....I cant sleep if the house is a mess. lol I go to bed at 3am usually. I spend from about 12:30am till then cleaning up, wiping walls washing and vacuuming floors etc......

<blockquote><b>Quoting crazy coupon lady:</b>" Thats me....I cant sleep if the house is a mess. lol I go to bed at 3am usually. I spend from about 12:30am till then cleaning up, wiping walls washing and vacuuming floors etc......"</blockquote>



Lol omg I do too. I thought I was alone. I just hate the idea of waking up and seeing a mess.

Quoting Lauralie89:" <blockquote><b>Quoting crazy coupon lady:</b>" Thats me....I cant sleep if the house ... [snip!] ... etc......"</blockquote> Lol omg I do too. I thought I was alone. I just hate the idea of waking up and seeing a mess."

lol...ppl think I am nuts. lol I am a night person anyways, and I did it befor I had kids, just cant leave a mess. Even if I am going out for the day, I dont want to come home to a mess. lol

I always do my dishes as they get dirty, when I cook dinner I fill the sink up, as soon as I dirty a measuring cup or done with a pan I wash it befor I eat lol then the cups and plates etc...go in the dishwasher. I cant look at