Making "Clean Up Time" Fun

Since moving to Tucson we've gotten involved in three different playgroups during the week. At each group, there is a designated "clean up time." I think the go-getter in Addie has made her excited about cleaning up; she wants to be the first of the kids to place the balls in the bag or the instruments in the box, an inner competition of sorts. 

She also loves the music played or the song sung by the leader during this time. At home we do a simple version, "Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere." So, as we clean I sing the song and Addie repeats the "clean up [every]body" part. This post from Taste and Tell contains 10 different clean up songs for kids. I'll have to try a few of these to add some more variety! 

Each time Addie makes a mess, whether it's her toys at the end of the day or a spilled glass of water, she helps me to tidy the situation. Giving her the responsibility to pick up after herself has really worked to make this a habit. She also has a pretty set routine during the day and thrives on the predictability. Before or after her bath each night, we sing the clean up song and she helps me to put all her toys back where they belong. For a little added fun, Tim will play the tune on the piano in the playroom while she works alongside me. Everything has a specific spot, so she's learning how to organize, too. Not that I want her to be a neat freak like me, though! Sometimes that comes at a price. For now, music, consistency, ownership, modeling, and a little healthy competition are working well to make cleaning up a fun part of the day. Sometimes, she even cheerfully does it on her own accord, without any prodding or reminders.  

Here is a snippet of Adeline singing the song as she cleans up a glass of water that she knocked over on the ottoman.