Dh is gone all weekend long and my plan is to get the house clean. As of right now I have done 5 loads of laundry, cleaned the bathroom and kitchen. I told the boys that they needed to pick one room (bedroom or playroom) and clean it. Honestly if they did it together it would barely take 5 minutes. That was an hour ago and there is still toys scattered everywhere! I told them I wanted to vaccum the room. They acted like they were gonna clean it and now are just playing. Grrr! I even said I would take them for a treat-they each have a coupon for a free Icee. I know, not good to bribe them to do stuff. I just reminded them about it and I got lots of whining and excuses (it's boring, I am tired, my feet hurt!). I am about to tell them that their butts are gonna hurt if they dont finish up. How do you get your kids to clean without all the whining and stuff?? They are 6 & 5 so I think that if they are old enough to drag out all their toys, etc that they are old enough to pick them up.

__________________

My boys are 6 and 8. Whenever they don't feel like picking up their toys, I go get a garbage bag and tell them that I will just throw all their stuff away. It works every time.

When my kids were that age, I'd warn them that everything I had to pick up would go into a garbage bag and into storage until they started doing as I said. Then I followed through without exception. Didn't take long for them to listen to me. Now, they're 16 & 18, and we just lock the fridge until the work is done.

I do the same thing I dont even have to get the bag out I just say im getting it and that does it.

I soo need to get my kids to help! i first want to go thru there stuff and get rid of things!!

__________________
http://tickers.bump-and-beyond.com/34/3431/343117.png

I am trying to teach dd to pick up as she goes along, so there is not a huge pile of things to clean up. At her age, it helps if I help her.... I know, not ideal, but she gets it done than without all the complaining.

don't feel bad about the bribes. I think that all moms said "I will never bribe MY children" UNTIL they had their own!!! LOL

__________________
married 9 years to a crazy Brit, mommy to a banana, she is 5 a pineapple who is 2 and a newborn sugarplum, mommy to 4 ~angel~ babies

I have done the garbage bag thing and actually thrown stuff away!! Yes it was stuff like all the broken toys, toys that were missing parts, the hundreds of McDonalds toys, etc. They whined and started to clean but than they just end up going back to their evil ways. They know that there is no way they are getting treats now. I too take away previledges (SP?) so I guess that is what will end up happening here in a few minutes if they dont shape up.
Thanks!!

__________________

Set a timer for a reasonable amount of time (30 minutes or an hour). Once the timer goes off, calmly go into the rooms with a trash bag put all the toys that have been left out in the bag. I know you've thrown away some of their broken/cheapy toys, but maybe they'll think twice if they lose something they really like.

__________________
"Ala-Freakin'-Bama, Roll Tide Roll!" ~ Trace Adkins

They are actually cleaning today!! They helped pick up the living room. And now they are working on their closet-they have a small walk in closet and I have all their shoes and one big toy box in it. I told them whatever was left on the floor today was going in the trash. Let's hope that they keep it up.

__________________

Pianolady do you really lock the fridge if so how do you lock it I could totally see this happening for my 17 yr old bottomless pit of a son!!!

I just tell ds to do it, that he's not doing anything else until whatever room gets picked up. If he still refused, I'd make him go into his room for a time out, After he picked them up!