"I bought more garbage bags, and I'm not afraid to use them!"
By CanadaGal
@CanadaGal (4304)
Canada
March 8, 2008 1:19pm CST
That's what I just finished telling my boys. They need to tidy up their playroom. Again. It's a regular argument in our house. However, I am the one who does the arguing, they just stare at me. The playroom eventually gets tidied somewhat, but not to the point that I know it can be.
I know, I know... it's partly my fault that the playroom is in the state it's in. If I didn't allow them so many toys, then there wouldn't be much of anything to tidy up.
But this time I'm going to follow through with my threat of packing things up in garbage bags if they're still on the floor and not put away. It's not like there isn't the room to put things away. There are bins and shelves and containers in the playroom. Most are labeled stating what goes in where, and each container has a spot somewhere. Yet they STILL have things lying about that don't get used, or that get dumped out and left there. Sigh!
Do you have any similar problems with your kids? How do you deal with the messy playrooms or bedrooms if they don't clean up in the alloted time frame? Do you have the nerve to actually throw away toys? Or do you put them aside for another time? Or perhaps do you package them up to donate to a local organization or for a yard sale? What limits would you give the kids to clean up? How much time would you allow them? What would be the consequences if they didn't follow through? Do you have any similar experiences to share? Do you have a garbage truck you can loan me? lol
4 people like this
12 responses
@DESMASTER2007 (1130)
• United States
15 Mar 08
Yea I do think that trash bags are pretty good. They do come in handy. I know at my old house when we cleaned up a lot of times we just used big trash bags. These bags they really come in handy. These types of bags are good for old junky things that you may need to put in trash or maybe in your storage. I actually do not have kids. But I think that you should follow behind them to make sure that they put the toys or anything they do. And if they do clean up give them an allowance or a special reward or treat. I know it seems kids when they are rewarded they will do what ever it takes to get the job done. Far as time, i guess it depends how old they are. Since you know the ages just pick a time that you may think that is perfect for their age. If they do not follow through discipline them or take away something that they love. That way that will teach them that you mean serious business. I know when I was growing up my family believes in spanky the hind part. lol.... If I had a garbage truck I guess I would help you out by loaning you one. Because It sounds like you have a big mess around your house, and i know how annoying that is. You should have maybe a junkyard sell or so. I dont know, its up to you. Its your choice lol...
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
16 Mar 08
It really isn't all THAT messy overall... but it bothers me because it's not nearly as clean and tidy as it could be.
1 person likes this
@Goatlady (159)
• Ireland
15 Mar 08
I give several warnings, I try, then one day I take a fit and go in with the garbage bags and start. I get 90% done and will usually leave a small pile for them to just sweep up. A lot of times it is less aggravating to do it yourself, though it can take a couple of days. Trouble is it doesnt take them long to undo it. I have gathered stuff and donated it to the donation bins you see in some parking lots. I have actually tossed video games and hubby went routing through the bins and b rought them back in!
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
16 Mar 08
I don't think I'd have the nerve to toss out video games. Considering I'm the one who usually buys them, the cost is too much of a factor.
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
9 Mar 08
I have this continous battle with my kids and they are now too old for any excuses.
One day I did throw all my sons toys and crap into the middle of his room and gave him an hour to clear up.
Luckily this worked, but did he keep this up..yer right.
Now I have another problem, having a 18 yr old daughter who is into dying her hair and caking on the make-up. Every towel in my home has hair dye on it and the bathroom floor is often seen with splatters of foundation and bronzing powder. It drives me mad.
I swear one day I am going to hide her make-up and just sit back and listen to the wails when she realises she has to go out make-up free.
I do not have a solution, but if you find one post it quick, it could save us parents from going through years of stress!!
1 person likes this
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
9 Mar 08
Howdy me old mucker!!
I heard so much bad stuff about this site I had to come and see for myself. Ain't found any yet, just some good old friends for ages ago.
Its good to see you here. I miss you so much on yuwie xx
1 person likes this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Jumping up and down singing LISA LISA LISA :))))))) Howdy!
2 people like this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
9 Mar 08
Oh gawd... makeup and teens.... with all boys, I have less of a chance of having to deal with that. I'm sure they'll do some hair dying... but if anything, I'll do what I can to do it for them, that way there'll be less mess.
I gathered 2 garbage bags worth of toys this time last year, and kept them in my room for weeks, if not months. They never even missed them.
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Yep, Karen when I was a young mother and my kids were young I had the same problem. I don't think I had the energy back then to fight much with them about it. The state of my house was what it was on any given day. I was a student,worked full time, 2 young boys, a husband and sick parents. I was to pooped most of the time to quibble about the toys laying about.
Now that I am a Nana and take care of my grand children, I am a stickler for keeping the toys picked up after play time. Like you I have a spot for everything and everything goes back into that place. It is easier now. I have the time to devote to teaching my grand babies, and the time to see that there is follow through. Makes a huge difference :)))
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
9 Mar 08
Not having the energy to fight about it... that is so true! I need to pick my battles, and in the grand scheme of things, having toys picked up off of a floor I don't have to look at much, isn't overly high on the list.
I never did go downstairs with the garbage bag. They DID clean up.. just not as good as it could be.
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
15 Mar 08
Karen that you for the BR..... its the truth I tell you here
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
9 Mar 08
There are only two people messier than my daughter in our house and that's her mother and me. But we've come up with a solution to our messiness. We have moved all the stuff that we didn't trash when we had the house painted into her room. She'll be home for the hols next week. She will not be too happy. But we've spent the past 19 years with her crap all over the house. Be glad that you don't have makeup, hair straighteners/curlers, buckets of girls clothes, more buckets of her friends clothes and girly hygiene stuff cluttering you up too (apart from your own of course). Girls are much worse than boys I think. That hasn't helped you much though. When she was younger I would heap up her stuff, especially the stuff she left in the lounge and tell her I was off to the Tip. She would quickly relieve me of it and put it away. When she was about 10 we let her go a boot sale (do you have those? A garage sale type thingy) and told her she could keep what she sold. She made £60. She has done that very occasionally since. She has an incentive that way and can be remarkably ruthless in turning out her stuff.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 Mar 08
I live in a townhouse complex, and there is a complex yard sale once a year, in late June. I could talk to the boys about gathering things to sell now, but I doubt they'd do that just yet. It's too far away.
The boys are officially gone from now until Wednesday afternoon sometime, so I think my best bet is to get those garbage bags and start getting rid of stuff. Most things down there in the playroom are in great shape.. so I won't actually be tossing anything out. But I will donate them a.s.a.p.
I think you're right in that girls would acquire more "stuff" than boys. I try not to overdo it in my house with frilly little knicknacks and such.. they drive me nuts. For sure spring is coming soon (even though we just got a major dumping on of snow again)... I've got the urge to purge!!! :D
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 Mar 08
lol... you can mail me the plane ticket and I'll be there a.s.a.p. My address can be found on my facebook profile page. lmao!
@julievy (593)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Too funny, I used to clean that way too. I would give them a deadline and anything that was not put away (neatly) by the time the deadline was up would be packed up into trash bags. They thought that I threw stuff away, but actually I donated most of it to good will. Normally I would give them all day to clean (like on a Saturday) and anything left at 6:00 PM would be picked up by me. I only had to do the trashbag routine twice and they caught on right away. When I would tell them to clean after that they would get right on it because they knew I meant business.
The boys are now grown (with kids of their own on the way) and their places are still a mess though.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
9 Mar 08
Their places are still a mess? Ugh! That's not very encouraging to hear... except for the fact it's not YOUR house that's messy. lol.
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
9 Mar 08
Wow.. that sure is nice of you. :) Care to help out at my house next? ;) haha!
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
9 Mar 08
that is what it is to be a kid,
My sister had a system, for everytime she had to tell them to clean up, they would lose the toys for a week,
in other words, if today she told them to clean up since they already knew before she told that they should they lost a week of playing with that toy,
if she came in the room an hour later and they toys were still there it was two weeks,
so not only did they learn to clean up they learned to clean up fast.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
9 Mar 08
The trick is in the follow through. Your sister obviously had the energy to do that, and that's why it worked. Good for her. :D
@dfinster (3528)
• United States
10 Mar 08
Yes, I have actually packed toys up and taken them away.(I know, I know, I'm sooo mean).LOL! But.. I have never actually thrown them away. I took them away and made them think they were gone just to make a point and after a week or two they got them back if they kept their things picked up. We just have a thing here that when the day is over and everyone is on thier way to bed things just get put away. I like to think that's how it works, but it doesn't always. I usually give them 2 or 3 more chances the next day to put stuff away and sometimes that doesn't work either. I think this is kind of an ongoing battle for a lot of people. Some days I just give up because a few toys not being put away is not the worst thing in the world, right??
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 Mar 08
Exactly.. it's all about picking our battles. And in the grand scheme of things, having an untidy playroom isn't such a big deal.
I do feel a lot better getting validation from others that I'm not the only one who goes through this. Misery enjoys company. :P
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
31 May 08
Well, I don't know the ages of the kids your talking about but most kids know how to pick up after themselves. If the toys are left out for days at a time and are making such a mess that you can't walk through the room then yes, I'd say they definately need to clean it. If they are just taking a break for a little bit to play with something else and it's not causing a huge mess then I'd say let it go. After all it is a playroom...most kids aren't real neat about playing. I'd say that they need to take a half hour before bed to clean it all up and put everything away. If they don't, I wouldn't let them play in there the next day.
My Mom used to take part of my younger Brothers toys and put them away and then 6 months later she'd switch them for what they already had out. They always thought they were getting new stuff LOL It also kept them from breaking everything at once.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
9 Mar 08
yep, a constant struggle.
When I get this cast off I am going in her room as she has been warned enough and given plenty of time to fix the problem... I am taking three garbage bags with me
1 for donating
2 for trash
3 for find a place for this now or it will also be donated.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
9 Mar 08
My kids are going away for a few days this week (march break here... and grandparents are taking them). I might just do the same thing. It's easier when they aren't around.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
9 Mar 08
No I dont have a garbage truck free to loan you at the moment as I will be using it myself for the mess that my lot make! Yes I have the same problems with mine, everyday they make a mess in their room and I have to go on and on and on. Then I sound like a nag, but I wouldnt nag if I wasnt forced to! I do throw their toys out if I have to tidy their room out! I tell them too, the last 2 weeks I have seen a little improvement in their room and so fingers crossed I may be finally getting through to them. Now all I have to do is get them to stop messing the rest of the house up.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
9 Mar 08
I can relate! The main floor of the house doesn't get too bad here. But that's only because they aren't allowed to have any toys on the main floor (except for Lego, because I don't want that scattered all over the house). It works well for me.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Mar 08
my kids are now adults but I went through the same thing and never had the nerve to throw away toys but did put some things in a bag and if they cleaned their bedroom without pouting they could have back a certain number of toys. If theydid not put back these toys in the containers I had given them the toys went into the bag again. this worked at times but I know I could ha ve been stricter but something must have worked since my son is quite tidy about his belongings now most specially his electonic gadjets.
1 person likes this
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
16 Mar 08
I hope my sons start taking better care of their items. We're only now just getting into the eletronics. They each got their own gameboys from Santa, and so far so good, they always seem to keep them in safe places and know where the chargers are.
