How to Train a Toddler to Pick Up Their Toys

I like the "clean up song" answer, but not sure about Barney!

I believe that making it fun is best. It's still easy for the todler to lose interest, because how much fun can it be to clean up?

Maybe a reward is the best thing. They most likely won't like cleaning up, but if there is a nice reward at the end of it, they may do it anyway.

make it fun. Sing the clean up song from Barney... make it a contest to see how fast they can get it done-offer a reward of some sort...

My toddler has a huge toy bin. We play around at making football and basketball shots into the bin. He has more Hotwheels cars than any child should in 100 lifetimes, so for the most part he "drives" them in there. He says "vrrrrroooommmmm" then jumps them or crashes them into the bin.

No matter how you do it, you're absolutely right... it's gotta be fun. He's a toddler after all, and what's not fun isn't worth doing!

My wife and I are big fans of Love and Logic. They are based here in Colorado and their general principle is that you as a parent need to take care of yourself. One of the ways you do that is to make sure... keep reading →

The "clean up" song always worked for my children. When they are just wee lil' tots you will need to help them pick up their toys to set an example so they know how you expect it to be done. You will probably need to do this with them for quite a few times and then slowly back off and make them do the majority until they can do it all by themselves.

You can also limit the number of toys they are allowed to have out at any one time. This will minimize the amount of toys needing to be picked up at the end of play time and make it less overwhelming for tots.

Also, there is no harm in telling your tot that there will be no cartoons or no going outdoors or whatever they are wanting to do next or whatever is their favorite thing until they pick up their toys. And you should word it so that they are making the choice and not you just ordering them to do something. Tots like to make their own choices, just be specific and limit it to two items to choose. Like, you can pick up your toys or sit in time out, which one do you want to do? Or, you can pick up your toys and have pudding for snack or sit in time out and have crackers. Don't take food away as punishment but offer something less desirable.