How to get your four-year-old to pick up his toys after playing with no problem

It can be frustrating trying to control your little one. You are busy and trying to manage things. How to get your four-year-old to pick up his toys after playing smoothly?

Well, I have to admit, this is all coming from a Canadian Thanksgiving dinner episode. I received such enthusiastic attention that it made me think and eventually decide it was something worth sharing.

It was after Thanksgiving dinner and the youngest member of our company, my four-year-old great-niece, was playing in the front room with a variety of toys. Suddenly I realized that the adult intention was focused on “cleaning”. Of course, the girl was not interested in the slightest. I’m not sure exactly when I was inspired to chime in, but I had an idea to make it a lot easier for everyone.

So, I went up to the young man and said, “I have a great game!” She immediately became intrigued and she smiled at me. So I said “Look at this!” I should also add-that she was done with much enthusiasm. The little toys needed to be organized in a basket. I told the young man, as he threw a toy into the basket, “let’s see if you can get it in.” Well, she wasn’t very successful, but I encouraged her and then I released another one. When she finally got one on the first try, I raved and laughed. She squealed with delight and started throwing two or three toys at a time, laughing as she did so. She had her convinced it was a game, and a good one.

The adults in the room were in awe as we cleaned up the many toys, one by one. And not surprisingly, my young companion became more coordinated as she threw things into the basket.

It was amazing that we cleaned the entire room and my niece even went everywhere looking for toys to throw in the basket, behind the chairs and under the tables. It was all fun and in no way seemed like a chore. At most it probably took 5-7 minutes.

My sister, the grandmother, came up to me and praised the results. I guess teaching so many years with children has taught me a few things.

Now I admit that it took me a bit of effort, but I also had a lot of fun with my little niece. It was so much more pleasurable to spend a few moments with her and make her squeal with delight than to stand in front of her with a fist in the air and yell, “Do it now!” And that’s how you get your four-year-old to pick up his toys after play with no problem!