| Every night found me nagging my kids for the same | | | | out one toy at a time - even when company was |
| thing: "You guys, look at your room. Get your toys | | | | over - and put up that toy before getting out the next. |
| picked up right now!" | | | | When it was time to leave their house, it was a snap |
| I didn't understand it. They would have their room | | | | to clean up with just one toy per child. |
| picked up, but a few hours later, it would be messy | | | | She had all these little boxes and containers for their |
| again. Toys all over the floor, blankets on the floor. | | | | toys with little pieces, so I thought that maybe that was |
| Toys in the hallway; toys downstairs. | | | | the secret. |
| I definitely was getting tired of looking at the mess, | | | | On my next trip to Walmart, I bought some containers |
| tired of stepping on Legos, but it was more than that. I | | | | to hold the toys; and a big box that held some |
| was aggravated that they didn't appreciate what they | | | | community toys. |
| had! | | | | Unfortunately all that changed was that I now had |
| When I was growing up, we had only a few toys. I | | | | empty containers in the kids room with toys on the |
| took good care of those toys - I still have my Tinker | | | | floor. |
| Toys in the original metal can with the included | | | | So, one day, I finally asked Judi, "How do you get your |
| instruction book - and I'm 37! | | | | kids to keep their toys picked up?" |
| My parents didn't have to nag me all the time - I don't | | | | "Well, you know," she said, "I used to go crazy with all |
| think - to pick up my toys. I know that I appreciated | | | | the toys everywhere that never got put up - hurting |
| them because they were so few and far between. | | | | my feet from stepping on them...until we started to use |
| My kids have been less fortunate in that respect - | | | | the 'Saturday box'." |
| tons of toys from Grandparents and relatives for | | | | "What's a Saturday box?" I asked. |
| Christmas. | | | | "It's just a container that we have, and every time a |
| Toys that move, make noises, and you name it. | | | | toy is left out, it goes into the Saturday box. Then they |
| They definitely don't appreciate the abundance of toys | | | | have to wait until Saturday to get their toys back." |
| that they have. So, I figured that I'd teach them what | | | | "Ohhhh..." I said. A new concept that hadn't occurred to |
| it's like to appreciate them or they wouldn't get to have | | | | me before! |
| any! | | | | "And, the great thing about it," Judi continued, "is that |
| One day I told them that every time I stepped on a | | | | they can still see the toys all week. That way they |
| toy, or had to pick up pieces of a set, or had to pick up | | | | know what they're missing - that solved our |
| something that was left out, it was going in the trash. | | | | 'out-of-sight-out-of-mind' problem." |
| And that's what I did. But it didn't work. | | | | I just nodded with agreement and understanding - I |
| You see, they ended up having ALL their toys in the | | | | was totally following her. |
| trash. It was annoying because there wasn't anything | | | | So, back to Walmart. :-) |
| left to play with when other kids came over. | | | | I got each kid a container with three drawers to keep |
| And it still didn't solve the problem of not appreciating | | | | their small toys. I explained to each of them that they |
| what they had. | | | | could only play with one toy or set at a time. I made it |
| They didn't even have time to miss the toys - they | | | | very clear that if anything was left out, it would go into |
| didn't have to. It was only a short while before the next | | | | the Saturday box. |
| birthday or holiday brought in a new batch of them. | | | | Their eyes were wide with amazement. |
| So, with my thinking cap on, I came up with my next | | | | They knew Mommy was serious. |
| plan of attack - a sticker and reward chart system. | | | | So, the first day went without incident. Then, on the |
| They were excited, thrilled, and motivated. When they | | | | 2nd, there was the first infraction. |
| got up in the morning, they'd do all the things on their | | | | "Maegan," I told her, "you left out a Polly Pockets. It |
| chart, anxious to have the boxes filled up with stickers. | | | | needs to go into the Saturday box." |
| But, stickers and reward charts only work once a day! | | | | Now, she is only three years old; but she understood. |
| When the "my toys are picked up" box has a sticker, | | | | We put the toy in the Saturday box - a clear plastic |
| the rest of the day went down the tube. | | | | container on the kitchen counter. |
| And, it didn't work to just give stickers at bedtime. | | | | EVERY day she was asking me if it was "Saturday". |
| They had no motivation to pick up during the day, and | | | | Fortunately for her, we had started mid-week so she |
| it became a nightmare divvying out all the stickers | | | | only had 2 days to wait. |
| when bedtime already dragged on longer than it | | | | The boys ended up with a few toys in there too. |
| should! | | | | It's amazing how a simple box called a "Saturday box" |
| So, I gave up for awhile. The lecture method didn't | | | | can solve a lot of problems and teach "appreciation" at |
| work, the "tossing toys" method didn't work, and the | | | | the same time! |
| reward chart didn't work the way I wanted it too. | | | | If you still have problems with toys being scattered |
| My kids were messy and unappreciative, and I needed | | | | everyone and nothing has worked for you, give the |
| to do something about it - fast. | | | | "Saturday Box" a try today! |
| My friend Judi didn't have that problem. Her kids got | | | | |