Children are less likely to argue or refuse to stop playing if you have established a set schedule/routine and give them fair warning. After all, no one likes being in the middle of a project and then being told they have to quickly clean up and put everything away. Here are some suggestions to make clean-up easier:
- Create a schedule with pictures depicting the activities, and post it somewhere children can see it. That way children in the child care program know what to expect at all times.
- Give children a 5- to 10-minute warning before clean-up time so they can adjust to the idea of having to stop what they're doing and finish any ideas they had for their play.
- Use a clear signal that it's clean-up time. Choose a clean-up song, flash the lights, or otherwise make it clear that it's time to clean up.
- Work with children during clean-up. Help put things away. Redirect children who are not cleaning up by giving them a specific task. For example, say, "Ellie, please put the shoes in the dress-up box."
- Clearly label shelves with pictures of what goes there so children can clean up after themselves.
Depending on the age of the children, it may not be appropriate to make them keep cleaning until everything has been picked up. Older children can do this, but infants and toddlers need practice cleaning up. The child care provider may have to follow behind them to ensure that everything is cleaned up.
The eXtension Alliance for Better Child Care has more information to help you. For more ideas on setting up a routine to make clean-up and other activities go more smoothly, check out on Establishing Predictable Routines in a Child Care Setting. To learn more about making dramatic play successful, check out Dramatic Play in Child Care.
