How to Keep a Young Child From Messing Up the House

If you have a young child, you know there are times when it may be impossible to keep the house clean. Take some precautionary measures to stop the mess before it begins or at least before it gets out of control.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Limit access to toys. Give your child a choice of one or two toys to play with at a time. This prevents your child from strewing toys all over the house.

2. Restrict the play area. This may mean investing in baby gates. If you restrict the areas your child plays in, it prevents her from messing up the rest of the house. Put her in a designated play room. Any resulting mess is then contained and easier to clean up.

3. Require your child to pick up after herself. If she is finished playing with one toy or game, insist that she put it away before allowing access to another toy or game. Offer rewards such as edible treats or stickers for doing a good job.

4. Get out of the house. The one surefire way to keep a child from messing up the house is to go somewhere else. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Then relish the clean house without any stress.