This is what our playroom looks like on a good day. Sometimes I think it would be easier to clean it up myself than to get the girls to straighten it up. It's a daily struggle, and while I always win the battle, I feel like I'm losing the war. A is still too little, and E becomes hysterical when asked to tackle a mess this big. "But what do I clean up FIRST?" "What do I clean up NEXT?" "Mooooommmmmmyyyyyy, I don't KNOW what to CLEAN UP!"
While I would love to have the time to stand still and direct her every move, I'm usually in the middle of making dinner or changing a diaper or, you know, surfing Facebook. So I finally devised a solution: Chore Mini Frames!
Target has these little frames (3.5" x 2.5") in their dollar spot. I got this pack of 4 for $2.50. Using Scrapblog.com, I created placards for four categories of toys: Books, Dolls & Dollhouse, Kitchen, and Toys. (Click on the picture if you'd like to download for yourself.)
E was thrilled with the placards. I thought about hanging them on the wall, but decided to just set them up on the toyshelf so we can rearrange the order. In no time she had the playroom looking like this:
Can you hear the Hallelujah chorus? My 20 minute Scrapblog project resulted in nothing short of the miraculous. Victory might be mine afterall!
Too Many Toys
by David Shannon
If you like David Shannon, you're sure to be happy with his latest book. Spencer has too many toys! Most of the book describes his various toys and their ubiquity throughout the house. Finally, his mother has had enough (sound familiar?) and insists that he get rid of some. They begin to haggle over every toy (my favorite line is when the mother says, "What are you, a lawyer now?!") until they finally fill the box. Spencer's poor mother thinks she's finally gotten the upper-hand, but in the end her son triumphs... in a surprise ending that winks at every parent reading the story.I'm linking up to:
- SOYS @ Fireflies & Jellybeans
- Sixth Street Design School
Great idea! My daughter whines every single time I ask her to clean up!
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant! Boo's still a bit young, but I'll be sure to remember this in another year or so. And definitely the book as well..
ReplyDeleteThat really is an excellent book.
ReplyDeleteI SO need that book.
ReplyDeleteWe're working on the clean up, it's not really happening, but we're working on it.
What sweet frames. Your playroom is adorable, don't you just love them when they're all clean.
ReplyDeleteWe really like that book. David Shannon is great.
ReplyDeleteThe clean up frames are so cute! Great idea.
I am so frustrated with toys right now. I don't even know how to tackle all of them. I really just want to throw them all out.
Great idea! Kylea gets overwhelmed and doesn't know what to start with too! I usually make a game of telling her which type of thing to pick up next (My Little Pony, dollhouse toys, etc...) or let her tell me what she is going to pick up next. I'll definitely be putting something like this together!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea using framed flash cards to help remind children how to clean up in subsections. I really should implement this idea in my boys playroom, and in the toy area in our downstairs. I'm off to visit the scrapbook link you listed now. :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, fabulous and I ♥ the cards you made!
ReplyDeleteToo Many Toys is a very witty book. I think that our toy area gets a lot more cluttered than yours. All the boy toys and all the girl toys add up fast. Thankfully I can hide most of it with the kids lifesize MEGA Bloks castle. My daughter helps a lot with clean up but my toddler son could care less.
ReplyDeleteYou. Are. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI have decided.
;-)
What a GREAT idea!!!!
I just found you blog, Brilliant! I have a daily struggle with my 4 & 3 yr. olds to pick up their things. I'm going to Target tonight!
ReplyDelete