Children and teachers often feel very
frustrated about cleanup time and aggravated with each other when it is finally
over; AND the teacher still has a lot of cleaning up to do. Remember that all
of us have our off days as far as cleaning up, so look at your expectations to
see if they are realistic.
To make cleanup time
easier, make sure children know where everything goes and that shelves are easy
to reach. When appropriate, encourage children to clean up as they go along
(wiping up a spill, completing a puzzle). Start a little earlier for difficult
jobs--the block area, for example. Give yourself enough time for cleaning up.
Give a warning and perhaps a signal--"In 5 minutes it
will be time to clean up." Let the children know what happens after
cleanup. This gives them something to look forward to. "As soon as we
clean up, we are going to play musical instruments."
The teachers always
clean up just as the children do. Modeling is one of the best forms of
teaching.
Help children decide what needs to be picked up, especially
on messy days. Encourage the idea of working together by working along with the
children.
Designate a meeting
place for children after cleaning up so that they do not end up in another area
and mess up what has been cleaned. Have something simple to do for those who
have finished, such as listening to music or reading a book. Keep waiting time
short. If you are having a circle activity after cleanup time, get started when
most of the children are ready. Another adult can stay with those who have not
finished.
Ask children to do
SPECIFIC jobs rather then the general "clean up”. Try making some of the
children "chair helpers", “block helpers”, “light switcher” and so
on.
Children love to hear
their names and as soon as they do, they will hurry to pick up something and
put it away.
If cleanup seems to be a massive job (and some days it will)
call on individual children and assign a
specific task (ex. “Holly, will you hang up all the costumes.” “Greg can you
please put away the dishes.” “Tim will you help the blocks find their home.”)
For a child who is
having difficulty, give him a choice of 2 areas to clean up or a choice of two
items to put away. (Sometimes giving a
lot of attention for not cleaning up encourages a child not to clean up.)
Have a “Family Meeting” on the rug and look around the room
to talk about what part is the messiest. Then ask for a volunteer, who can then
ask others to help. After the room is
clean get on the rug again, talk about who cleaned what, applaud
everyone, and then proceed with the next activity.
Cleanup Games
Airplanes flying the
blocks over to the shelf ; Busy bees at work; Elephants carrying toys with
their trunks; Cleanup robots; Hopping rabbits carrying carrots back to their
home; Cranes lifting and lowering blocks on shelves; Santa's putting toys in
pack and carrying it to shelves; Garbage truck pickup.
Children can use
objects in the room, such as boxes, chairs or trucks to help them clean up.
Ask the children if
they have strong muscles. Of course, most of them insist that they do. They
then pick up all the blocks to show you how strong their muscles are getting.
Ask children to give you a High 5 after they are done
picking up something.
For a faster clean up time put a music tape in and the
children have to have their center they were playing in cleaned up and find a
shape to sit on over at the circle before the song ends. You can change it each
month or use the same one all year. If there is extra time at the end of the
song dance, dance, dance!
Ask children to turn themselves into vacuum cleaners! Put
out your arms and make vacuum cleaner sound effects while the hose (your arms)
pick up all the toys, paper or anything else you need picked up!
Clean Up Freeze...
Play a song as children clean up. Throughout the song, stop the music and have
everyone freeze. Restart the music to get everyone moving again.
To keep children busy AND get a clean room, give each child
a washcloth. Squirt small amounts of shaving cream around the room (on the
fridge, on the table, on a shelf, on the wall, etc.) the children will love
wiping the shaving cream and cleaning the items at the same time.
Play a John Phillip Sousa March. When the kids hear the
music start they know it is time to pick up. Have the children line up on a
designated line and have a “Pick-up Parade”. March to the music as toys are
picked up and place in their designated places.
Use different music to do other movements as wells such as walking on
the balance board, jumping over bricks, walking like various animals between or
as things are put away. Pick-up time is quicker and smoother and we also get to
work on some of those gross motor skills each day.
Play an imagination game, Say, “Who wants to be a dump truck?” Tell those who raise their hands or say me,
" I want all the dump trucks to pick up anything that should be thrown
away and put it in the trash.” Then say "who wants to be
Transformers" then tell hose who want to be the transformers ”I want all
the transformers pick up any cars and
trucks and then transform into Bumblebee and put them away where they
belong.” Continue until the room is
clean. It not only teaches them to pick
up, but also uses their imaginations as well.
If it looks as though the children are having a hard time
beginning to clean... say freeze. Everyone freezes in place, and say, “Look
around to see what you are going to pick up.”
Make a traffic light out of cardboard, you could either
paint red, yellow, and green circles or you can cut them out of construction
paper. This can stick on the wall during play time. The green circle can be
attached to the traffic light during play time. When it is almost time to clean
up, the teacher can put the yellow circle up. When the children see the yellow
circle they will know that play time is almost over. When it is time for the
classroom to be cleaned the red circle will up. The kids will know that they
should start cleaning up.
If the children seem too distracted to clean up, become the
'Inspector' with a magnifying glass... Have the children hustle to keep the
inspector from finding anything out of place.
For clean-up time play a few chords on the piano, ring a
bell, or use another auditory attention getter.
Use visual attention-getters such as a boa, a silly hat, a
dowel with ribbons attached, a scarf…
Especially when the children have a very high energy
level, play "Beat the Clock". Gather the children in the center of
the room and set the kitchen timer for 5 minutes. Try to get the room clean
before the timer goes off!!!
What ideas have worked well for you? Use the comment box to share with us
