It is like clockwork. Meg or I take all the toys and books in the front room and put them on the shelves where they belong.
And then a whirlwind stirs up in the form of a 22-month-old behind me. He throws the toys and books on the floor, as quickly as they were put away. Sometimes it takes two or three cycles and a whole lot of determination for Jamie’s belongings to stay put away. I’ve written about cleaning with toddler present before.
But now, we have a new development. A gorgeous, happy, new development. Allow me to explain. Because of our work schedules, Jamie spends a few days a week at day care. So there are multiple people in the mix teaching him, and because he is our first, this can occasionally be a really good thing. Sometimes he will receive guidance that Meg and I didn’t think to teach him, which is exactly what happened when my wife picked our son up from daycare very excited the other day.
“Guess what? Jamie knows how to put stuff back,” she told me the second she got home.
All of the sudden, the world or at least the part of it that our house is in, changed.
“Jamie can you put your toy away?” I asked.
With a little guidance, he did. I expected more resistance from him. I expected him to find somewhere ultra creative and worse than the middle of the family room to put all of his toys. But instead, he actually put it away. He remembered where it went, and he put it there.
I think I’m going to celebrate by telling the kid to clean his room. Or buying him a child-sized snow shovel. Or maybe have him switch a load of laundry. Never mind he can barely walk down stairs using the railing. With the help of a step stool he could even wash the dishes.
I digress…
He really is starting to put more together. We recently started asking him to take his shoes off when he gets home, and for the most part he does it. This is something he has perfected over the last two years while riding in the car seat. Whenever we arrive at said destination all shoes and gloves are strewn in all corners of the back seat. He is just learning to take them off upon request.
Maybe I’m jumping the gun on a few things listed here, but he can start to use his powers for the greater good.
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I hope he keeps it up (wish my kids had).
Ha, fair point Ashley.
I am with Ashley on this one and just hope he keeps it up. My youngest absolutely loves cleaning and tidying up. Yet out of the two the youngest is the one that causes the most destruction….go figure the logic there!
I think when your kids start to clean is as momentous when they walk and talk. Unfortunately, at least in my kids case, it’s not nearly as exciting and consistently done.