Is your house a mess.....

Same here, the playroom is in the living room, with train rails and boxes full of toys... but I find some cars and some book all over the place, so I just tidy up at the end of the day !
 
I'm the opposite, when me and my daughter are away, hubby cleans the house so good ;) I think it's me and her who are the messy ones!! Hubby loves the place spic and span ;)
 
Ours is messy too ( we have far too many toys) and we also use the same threat of everything that is not in place goes in the dust bin. It works most times
 
I have a 1.5 yr old..and yeah--living room is always a MESS. I clean up only twice a day though..when she sleeps! hubby wont lift a finger-he'll tip toe over the toys but wont pick em up. darling daughter doesnt get the message of 'tidy up' :(( have to start using the rubbish bag threat --thanks Cara for the nice tip!!
 
Our 14 month old young lady enjoys making the house a mess too and the moment I clean up, she takes it as a challenge to mess it up more better. True that on weekends when dad is here, the house is more messier!!!!!
I have decided to only clean up only twice a day, before lunch and before bed, sort of in a game style, since she is starting to understanding simple instructions such as "please put this here." and she wants to hear the clapping and "hurraaaaay!!!" from me, she will do it until she gets bored. After that, I have my helper feed her while she watches me continue putting back things. Fingers crossed that this becomes a habit but if not, I think I will apply the garbage bag method mentioned when she gets older!!!
 
With a helper, it's sometimes hard to get the children to get into the habit of tidying up after themselves. The helper feels obliged to do it or she just wants to get the job done. I've told my one to let my son do it all himself but I still see her doing most of it. I bet my son doesn't lift a finger when I'm not around. My strategy now is to say that I'll throw out the toys he doesn't put away and that seems to work, although rather reluctantly.
 
i also have a song that i use at playgroup. "it's time to clean up"

my kids sing it as they clean up (or make me sing it).
 

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