Clean-Up, Clean-Up, Everybody, Everywhere...

You Know the Song!

There aren't very many children, or adults for that matter, who really and truly enjoy the process of cleaning up.  (I apologize if you are one who enjoys the task of cleaning- I wish I could be more like you!)  On the other hand, we probably all enjoy the end result which is a clean, tidy, organized, and relaxing environment! 

There are those who say that requiring  young children to clean up their toys, put materials away, throw away their own trash, and help wash tables is really not developmentally appropriate.  There are others who say it helps develop confidence and shows initiative and independence, building a sense of community.  Wherever you fall in this debate the fact remains that in our preschool programs we have to clean up our classrooms after work time and it works better if everyone helps. 

In my experience as an adult, I have learned there are things that make cleaning bearable, if not fun.  Sometimes I just might need some new tools to feel efficient and successful.  (I think I've heard that line from my husband!) Recently, I bought a new vacuum that works on my super thick rug and easily picks up pet hair and then found washable cleaning cloths that work really well on everything else.  Those new tools have made my cleaning job much easier.  There are now times when I look forward to cleaning my house- but it's more than the new tools! Those times when I look forward to cleaning are usually when I’m not doing it alone.  It is not that the process of cleaning has suddenly become an enjoyable task; it’s that I like doing things with other people.  When we clean together it’s usually in preparation for a party or family gathering, so the end result is even more fun than just a sparkling clean house.

As early childhood educators we have goals that include teaching children to care for the environment, which includes cleaning up and taking care of trash. We have everything organized and labeled in hopes that as children put things away they will experience and begin to understand grouping and sorting (science and math), we explain to children how it’s easier to find their favorite things when they’re put away where they belong and this supports their developing awareness of geography.  Although I’m not sure three, four, or five-year-old children understand or buy into all of that, these are still important lessons,  The process of cleaning up the classroom still may not always be that much fun, so for children it may not be worth the trouble… unless we can make it into something the children truly enjoy.  We know our children’s interests and strengths, so we can try building on those.  Sometimes children may need new tools, sometimes there’s a way to turn clean up time into a social event or a game and sometimes we need a strategy for keeping the end result in mind.  

There are a few clean-up games and strategies I have used or heard about over the past few years and I've listed some of them here.  If you have some ideas that have been successful in your experience, or some successes you have heard about please, feel free to share.

Partner Clean-up

Give pairs of children a bucket or bag of some kind and have them fill it up and then work together to put away all the materials in their container.

Be the Boss

Have children choose an area or set of materials to be in charge of- they can recruit helpers or do it themselves, but they are the boss of that area and can say when it's finished.  Variation- each area has someone assigned to check the area once it has been finished by those working in that area. Could be a classroom job a child signs up for.

Beat the Song

This is a race against a song you play (or you could sing a song) and everyone is in on the race.   Variations include assigning different groups of children to different areas or materials and they race each other.   Race against a timer or race against a teacher(s).

Pretend Clean-up

Choose a favorite pretend play scenario and clean up within that play theme-  the High Scope Demonstration Preschool teachers pretended they were all ninjas and there was a monster in the sewer.  They needed to clean up to melt it away.  With each area of the room that was cleaned another part of the monster melted until he was all gone and the classroom was cleaned up. Variations from Gretchen's House WISD- Robot clean-up (might have robot music to go with it) and Spy clean-up (also with music)

Number Clean up

Have number cards ready (could be playing cards)- each child picks a number and puts away that many things- then children can go and get another number and put away that many more things.

Attribute Clean up

Announce what to clean up by attributes (or even better- have children take turns announcing). Examples- "First, put away all the red things," or "Next, find all the rectangular toys and put them away" or Now put away everything made of wood."

Create a book of favorite clean-up games and let a child/children choose.