toinvite loadsw of children round and say they can have any of my kids toys?

[misdee]

ebcause i have just gone into the girls room again, and its a fcking sht-tip again and am fed up with it.

they dont have toys floor to ceiling, but just seem unable to put them away after use. they havent made their beds, they have left dirty clothes on the floor, and i can even bear to look under the bed.

[sumum]

How old? Unless 28years+ then thats just how kids are unless bribed directed to do it bit by bit.

Good storge helps.

But yanbu to be fed up with it.

[AgentZigzag]

How old are they? I think it's pretty typical for any age TBH, I get pretty stressed out about my DDs room.

Hope you're joking about the toys because that would just be nasty.

[misdee]

of course i'm joking.

they are 10, 7 and 5.

and share a room which doesnt help.

does need a big clean though, am headig up there after lunch to sort through it all again and put some stuff away properly.

[misdee]

we have good storage btw. but they seem unable to use it.

[MarthaQuest]

YANBU at all, DS would like to come round

[MarthaQuest]

seriously, I find than making noises about doing a car boot with a featured toy section usually gets ds' arse into gear.

[Hulababy]

Leave two bin bags in there.

When they get home tonight say that they have xxx minutes to get it tidy. Leave a clock or timer with them.

Any broken toys etc goes in one big bag.

Any toys no longer wanted/used goes in he second bin bag.

Those they do want goes away in the storage you have already provided.

Give them a 5 minute and then 2 minute warning.

Anything still not tidied away after the set time limit goes in a bin bag and straight in the car, with the intention of taking it to the charity shop.

[ChippingIn]

I would do what Hulababy said, but I would give them half an hour to get the stuff where it belongs - not just chucked into any old box.

We have a superb storage system (there are some advantages in being anal - I knew what I wanted and got it - in the end !!) and so they have NO excuse for not putting things away. Everything has a place (mixture of boxes, tubs, shelves etc) and there is plenty of space (not crammed in).

I only have to look in the direction of the
bin bags now and it's instant action

[Hulababy]

Oh yes - definitely give them a reasonable length of time after all you want it put away properly not just stuffed into the nearest drawer.

But I would go for the 5 and 2 minute warnings later on too.

[toodles]

ChippingIn, please elaborate on your storage system. I thought I had a good system but it still doesn't help.

[ChippingIn]

toodles - I meant it is superb for 'us' if you know what I mean - it's really nothing special

We have a large kitchen where we have the dining table so we use the room that should be a dining room as a playroom (big head start I know over having to have all the toys in the bedroom especially when they are sharing (have been there done that too!!).

I spent hours (days, weeks, months... too bloody long) looking for childrens storage furniture, looked at having it made etc... however, after quotes which just made me PMSL gasp, I settled on Ikea furniture the Besta range, as it was the deepest shelving I could find and a good price. I just mixed and matched the units to fit the space. I only put doors on the top row of shelves along one wall which I use for art stuff, presents etc all the other shelves I left 'open'

The top ones I have toys they have to ask to have down and I put all of the other stuff where they could easily get to it - of course this all changes as they grow

I then bought tubs from Tesco for soft toys (which slide in onto the lowest shelf (almost on the floor), baby toys etc a variety of large boxes/crates, smaller boxes (I bought things to fit and co-ordinate all in the same colour wave so it doesn't look messy). Left some shelves open for specific toys that I didn't want in boxes, shelves for books, puzzles, games... and a long bench space to play on/put their choice of bits & pieces.... a couple of bean bags and it's good to go...

I hope that all makes sense!?

I didn't label any of the boxes as we can see into the room from the kitchen and I didn't want it to look like a preschool! They know which box/crate/tub has what in it and they always go back in the same place.

Sometimes, more so when they have friends over, the room is a TIP when they have finished playing, but because it's so easy to put things away, it's rarely a problem and when it is, I get the roll of bin bags out and suddenly it's no trouble .

I would post photos but don't want to out myself!!

[Kiwiinkits]

Perhaps you could book a space at a car boot sale and challenge them to compete to make the most money from selling their old stuff? Allow them to keep the proceeds and spend it on whatever they like.

[Kiwiinkits]

Or better still, say you will match whatever their sale proceeds are dollar for dollar. No better incentive to get them to clear out their crap.