I use certain tactics such as the "ten item pick-up rule" which means that each child has to pick up ten things. This seems to work really well. I've also set a timer and challenged my kids to see if they could get their assigned task finished before the beeper goes off. I've also learned that if you assign your child a specific task rather than just a general assignment, it will be more likely to get done. For example, my daughter is to pick up all of the stuffed animals and my son is to pick up all of the Legos.
These ideas usually work and I usually get results. But no matter how fun I try to make their job I always hear one complaint: "But I didn't make this mess!"
Usually it's my four-year-old who is responsible for the majority of the mess, who just happens to be asleep on the couch at the time. My older kids are right-it's no fun cleaning up someone elses mess. I remind them over and over that I rarely get a toy out to play with, but more often than not am the one picking it up. I've been tempted to cry and throw a fit as I throw toys in the toy box just to see my children's reaction. And they think they're picked on!
I admit I am a little less strict when it comes to my four-year-old cleaning up his messes. After a long day, I don't want to have to deal with a whining little boy and when I do it myself it gets done in half the time and looks twice as nice. I'm learning though, that even though I'm avoiding a fight now I'll be faced with more challenging ones down the road.
That's my biggest problem of parenthood. I consider myself a pretty good disciplinarian to my kids. The thing I have to work on, however is disciplining myself. I've got to be more patient, more understanding and willing to let my kids learn how to do the work for themselves and make them do it.
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