https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 12 May 2026 04:13:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-cleans-up-after-the-kids#post-2221750 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:39:39 +0000 Mamaof2 2221750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Messy activities (e.g., paint, shaving cream) are done after dinner and before bath - DH usually cleans up while I usher kids to the bathtub - </p> <p>For coloring before bed - paper and crayons? Kids would put it away when done - </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-cleans-up-after-the-kids#post-2221738 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:30:42 +0000 Corduroy 2221738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I would stop the activity 15 minutes early and build in a cleanup time sort of as a pre-bedtime routine. As cleanup behavior improves hopefully the time could be shortened. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-cleans-up-after-the-kids#post-2221672 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:35:58 +0000 jhd 2221672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be hesitant to take that away since you mentioned that it's been a great bonding experience for them. Is there any way to make the clean up before bed easier? Maybe only allow a few things out at a time (ex if you want to use markers, please put colored pencils away first) and make sure they have an easy system for storing craft supplies? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-cleans-up-after-the-kids#post-2221670 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:34:47 +0000 mrsjyw 2221670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We usually don't do messy activities toward the end of the day. DS usually picks up his corner on the main floor before bed or before dinner. Our basement play area, that's another story. :P Out of sight, out of mind! Until one of gets to it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-cleans-up-after-the-kids#post-2221669 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:34:09 +0000 Andrea 2221669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: it depends how I feel and ya, how much time we have! If they both wake up at 6 am, for example, then we would have enough time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-cleans-up-after-the-kids#post-2221665 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:28:52 +0000 mrbee 2221665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Do you not allow messier activities after dinner and before school? I worry that sometimes we have long stretches of time to kill at those times of the day, so disallowing that stuff entirely could be tough to pull off! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-cleans-up-after-the-kids#post-2221663 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:26:13 +0000 Andrea 2221663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: ah in that case yeah, I have limited messier activities at that time because I know that it'll be harder to do round 2 of clean up. It's the same before school if they want to do crafts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-cleans-up-after-the-kids#post-2221659 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 12:20:02 +0000 mrbee 2221659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: Yah usually it's ok by dinner, but sometimes the kids want to draw together after dinner! Maybe we just need to be more strict about it - if they don't clean up after an after-dinner drawing session, they can't draw together after dinner for a certain amount of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-cleans-up-after-the-kids#post-2221636 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 11:58:04 +0000 Andrea 2221636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always clean up together before dinner. Then it's all clean for the end of the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-cleans-up-after-the-kids#post-2221394 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 08:50:36 +0000 looch 2221394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have a good answer....I have bins out in the kitchen where my son can play with his kinetic sand, playdough and art supplies. Basically, what happens is that the table gets covered with crap and we eat in the dining area. I like that he plays there because the table is old, the seating is wipeable and the floor is sweepable.</p> <p>This drives my husband bananas though, right now, we have a huge art project drying on the table. Last week, it was cars all set up on a playdough ramp. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-cleans-up-after-the-kids#post-2221390 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 08:48:01 +0000 mrbee 2221390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've been working hard to have the kids clean up after themselves, especially after messy art projects. They love to draw together before bedtime, which is a real bonding experience for them. But sometimes cleanup doesn't happen before bedtime, and then we will wake up to a house with paper and pens all over the floor. </p> <p>I don't want the house to be messy all day, so I will pick it up sometimes - but I feel like that's sending the wrong message. I've tried putting some of the items they've left out into "time out" - so they can't use them for a while. But my daughter doesn't respond well to that, so I'm not sure if it's working.</p> <p>Should we limit access to the arts &amp; crafts supplies if the kids can't clean up after themselves regularly? Limit arts &amp; crafts in the evening entirely? Wondering what the best way is to deal with this recurring problem. </p>