🙌 Aside from the fact that we all would like more free time in the evenings to relax and enjoy, involving kids in the cleanup process has so many benefits for them too!

For example, the Montessori Method of teaching puts a strong emphasis on having children cleanup for themselves. Here are some of the reasons why:

🌟 Cleaning up teaches children responsibility
🌟 It also makes them accountable so that if they use toys, for example, they make the connection that they will eventually have to put them away.
🌟 It makes them more aware of their surroundings and aware of the importance of their toys, rather than taking them for granted.
🌟 As young children begin to develop higher level abilities, they can put them to use while cleaning. For example, being able to put a LEGO into a box or a box onto its proper spot on a shelf is a relatively new ability for an 18 month old.
🌟 We find that our child seems to like helping us clean. If we model cleaning up for our kids, they want to be like us and so will want to help clean. Remember at this age, kids don’t know the difference between what is a game and what is a chore!🥰

Of course, we sometimes we have to be flexible:
🌳 If our little guy is particularly tired or hungry, we may let the cleanup activity go that time.
🌳 Also, if there is a particularly big mess, that can be overwhelming for a little one. Our child is only 17 months, so sometimes we might have him put just one or two of the things away, like the books and wooden blocks. However, by the time they’re about 4, they should be able to clean with no assistance.
🌳 We try to frame cleanup in a positive, rather than negative, light. For example, “As soon as we cleanup, we can go outside!”

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