Play is the most important experience for young children.  It provides opportunities for fine-motor development, imaginative play, preliteracy skills, as well as math skills.  Children dump, sort, and build with all sorts of toys and often make all sorts of messes.  For children, clean-up time means that their play must come to an end.  Often times, parents and caregivers are met with opposition.  Aside from singing the popular "Clean-up Song" from children's programming, what else can be done to ease the frustration of clean up time?  

     1.  First, know your audience.  Young children will need help to learn how to clean up.   Use this as an opportunity for "teachable moments".  For example, "Can you help me pick up the cars and put them in this blue basket?"  The more specific you are, the better response you will get from the child.  

     2.  Play "Beat the Clock".  Set an egg timer for a certain amount of time and ask your child if they can try to clean up super sonic fast and before the bell dings.  Children love being timed.  

     3.  Play a freeze game during clean up time.  Turn on music and while the music plays, everyone must be cleaning up.  When the music stops, everyone must freeze.  

     4.   Remember to use lots of praise for a job well done.  "Sara, I like the how you put all of your blocks away so neatly.  I can tell that you've worked very hard." 

     5.  Make up silly songs along the way.  Change the lyrics to favorite songs and make them personal.  

    These are just a few suggestions of tried-and-true ways to help ease clean-up time.  Please note that there will be times when children refuse to clean-up no matter how fun you try to make it.  What works on Monday might not work on Tuesday!  So, take a deep breath, be creative, and have fun!