Does the mess get better as kids get older? What age?

[Anonymous]

I have a 2.5 year old and we have had playdates with kids from age 1 to 5. Everyone’s house seems to be a mess except for those who have a dedicated basement. We have a playroom and try to contain the mess but even our friends with big playrooms also have toys all over the living room and dining room. Legos and tiny toy pieces everywhere. At what age does this get better? Is it more a function of specific families being messy or lax or just the age of having a lot of kid clutter? DH and I cannot seem to agree on how much kid mess is acceptable in our own house and I am wondering what other people do.

[Anonymous]

You have to stay on top of it. I have three kids age 2 to 7 years. We all clean up together before bed - make it a game, a competition, my kids love to try to earn an extra book at bedtime, best cleaner gets to choose book, etc.

If we’re home all day, we have to do it mid-day as well. I need organization and a clean home for my own sanity. It’s still not easy in my house.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think this is something you have to norm-reference, just decide for yourselves.

[Anonymous]

Clean up every day. Less stuff.

[Anonymous]

Around 8 years or so, I noticed a decrease in the amount of toys. That did help.

[Anonymous]

If parents can’t manage the pile of cheap Chinese garbage toys, there’s just too much.

What do you expect?

[Anonymous]

I feel like the infant stage was messy because of all the baby stuff like swing, feeding supplies, special plates, cups, etc. Now closer to three I’ve gotten rid of that, but now there’s toys with small parts, like puzzles, building toys, sticker sets, farm/doll/whatever sets.

[Anonymous]

We have a 2 year old and an infant and our house is generally pretty clean. We stay on top of it and the toddler knows she has to put something away before taking something new out. She helps clean up the infant's stuff too. What also helps I'm sure is we just don't have a lot of stuff and everything has a place (even if it's in a basket or bin).

[Anonymous]

Our living room is our playroom. We have bins for everything. So yes, it can be a HUGE mess with 4 and 6 year old kids, including legos or other small toys, but everything goes back in the bin when kids are doing playing with them. Lego toys that are mid-way can stay out or be put on a shelf for later. I mean sure, we're cluttered, but it's not the mess you are describing. I don't know anyone's house that is that messy with toys all over the place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a 2 year old and an infant and our house is generally pretty clean. We stay on top of it and the toddler knows she has to put something away before taking something new out. She helps clean up the infant's stuff too. What also helps I'm sure is we just don't have a lot of stuff and everything has a place (even if it's in a basket or bin).

Ha! Your oldest is two!

Wait until you get to the legos, puzzles, art supplies, doll clothes, magnetiles, dress up clothes, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our living room is our playroom. We have bins for everything. So yes, it can be a HUGE mess with 4 and 6 year old kids, including legos or other small toys, but everything goes back in the bin when kids are doing playing with them. Lego toys that are mid-way can stay out or be put on a shelf for later. I mean sure, we're cluttered, but it's not the mess you are describing. I don't know anyone's house that is that messy with toys all over the place.

+1 with 3.5 year old.
Trucks get parked, LEGO goes back in bin, dress up stuff in basket, etc. We rotate toys and store extras in the basement, so we’re not overwhelmed.

[Anonymous]

My kids are 6, 4 and 2 so we are in peak mess phase. In our family room I have boxes that all toys must go into at the end of the day. It only takes them a few minutes to do it and it’s nice to see the room look decent before I head to bed. My parents do the same thing at their home with big toy boxes hidden behind a sofa that get plundered when the grandchildren visit. If a home is a constant mess it’s the parents fault for not having a plan and some discipline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a 2 year old and an infant and our house is generally pretty clean. We stay on top of it and the toddler knows she has to put something away before taking something new out. She helps clean up the infant's stuff too. What also helps I'm sure is we just don't have a lot of stuff and everything has a place (even if it's in a basket or bin).

Ha! Your oldest is two!

Wait until you get to the legos, puzzles, art supplies, doll clothes, magnetiles, dress up clothes, etc.

+1 yep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a 2 year old and an infant and our house is generally pretty clean. We stay on top of it and the toddler knows she has to put something away before taking something new out. She helps clean up the infant's stuff too. What also helps I'm sure is we just don't have a lot of stuff and everything has a place (even if it's in a basket or bin).

Ha! Your oldest is two!

Wait until you get to the legos, puzzles, art supplies, doll clothes, magnetiles, dress up clothes, etc.

+1 yep.

That’s stupid. Older kids can clean up. Op at four they can clean it all up. Start teaching now though.

[Anonymous]

I've never had a mess in my house overnight. Kids are 9 and 6 now. They have to clean up everything at the end of each day before bed or they lose privileges (and I clean it up and/or throw it away). Messy houses are simply the result of adults being tolerant of messes.

When they are too young to clean up themselves, you allow only a limited number of toys at a time. Why should 5 more toys be taken out when 8 are already on the floor and not being played with? Like, take some responsibility for your house. Do you stack 16 dirty dishes in the sink before you wash them?