So as part of their nightly chores, I get them to mop the floors and take out the trash!
I call them chores but they're really just little tasks to redirect their energies and once they know something is their job, they are very focused on completing the task at hand. Our task list includes
- taking their dirty clothes to the hamper
- handing over the clean dishes in the dishwasher to mommy (only done with one child at a time and on the rare occasion that they are in the kitchen with me)
- helping to transfer the wet clothes from the washer to the dryer
- *drumroll please* picking up their toys before bedtime. This is such a big one for me. It takes 7-10 minutes and involves me pointing at every toy in the living room and asking them to take it to their toy corner. The more we do this, the more they grasp the concept. I do need to buy some toy boxes so that they're actually putting the toys away.
Ok, so I fibbed about the mopping and the trash but not the rest. Yes, toy cleanup is possible at this age :)
