How Can I Discipline My Toddler to Help Clean Up?

In order for your toddler to learn to put his things away and prepare him for simple chores later on, you will need to spend time each day showing and telling him how to do this each day until he is old enough to do it on his own.

At age two, toddlers can and should have the discipline to put their things away with the help of an older child or adult. I recommend setting up a "clean up" time each day. For example, before dinnertime every night, play a song such as "The Clean-Up Song" to help make it more like a game for him. Working with your toddler to help clean up for three to four minutes per day is developmentally appropriate for his age, and will give you some much-needed relief!

You can't, however, expect your toddler to have the discipline to clean up absolutely everything he plays with or touches. If your toddler can usually play with all the toys, clothes, and books he wants, then to help keep housework manageable, you may want to limit the number of objects he has access to at any one time so you are not overwhelmed with cleaning up what your toddler cannot.