My son is 7 years old and he cannot keep his room clean.?

Question

Is this too early of an age to make him clean his own room? I am trying to teach him responsibility because he is privledged and has a lot of things I never had at that age( TV, Satallite, dvd,vcr, ect..) Not too mention way too many toys. I get so frustrated with all the mess he leaves and I insist he picks up after himself. Is this being too harsh? I always have to go behind him and Really clean. I work full time and so does my husband. I do all the laundry and the cleaning, shopping ect.. I am tired of doing everything without people taking some initiative and cleaning up after themselves. I need help!!

Answer 1

At 7 yo, he should be able to keep his room clean.  One trick that has worked with my kids is if they don't put their items away, I take them away until they earn them back.  This includes things in there room. One week of losing things and my kids have kept their rooms picked up, lol.

Answer 2

7 is definately not to early. I'm a teacher and we have 1st graders taking responsibility in the classroom  I think the toughest thing is that you have to teach your child how to clean and how to organize. It's not a behavior that people/kids are born with. I love the show, Clean House because I swear it speaks to people like me - the reformed messy. Watch the show and get some tips.

Buy some bins at the dollar store and get friendly with your label maker. If kids have a specific spot to put something then they will be more likely to put things back. I would also encourage scaling down. Everytime he gets a new toy, get rid of one for good will. Before he gets a new toy out, make him put the other one away. I understand some kids combine toys which is acceptable but he must understand that before dinner and what not the room has to be  clean.  Encourage him to help you around the house. If you do things together it could be another bonding time rather than him feeling alone and having to do it himself.

Answer 3

Number one no child needs a television/dvd/vcr in their bedrooms.  Television is not conducive to good sleeping habits, in fact it has been shown that television causes sleep disorders in children and sleep deprivation resulting in problems at home, chronic crankiness, lack of sleep, problems in school poor grades, bad attitudes.  

As for cleaning his room.  I have three kids and have found that the more I hound them about cleaning their rooms the more they procrastinate.  So when I walk by their room I simply shut the door.  After all in 20 years it isn't going to matter whether the room was clean today or not.  I have found quite often upon knocking on their door and entering they are busy cleaning their room, without being told to.  Let him clean his room on HIS schedule, you'll have better luck...but please pull the television out of his room along with the dvd and vcr.  He doesn't need them in there and they're not going to be of any help to you or him if he begins having problems in school because of them.  

Answer 4

Your son is a small child, and small children tend to be messy. Hah, even adults have a messy nature. However, it's critical to teach your son a sense of responsibility and neatness at an early age. Tighten up a bit, especially if you think he's getting too spoiled. You're not being harsh for asking him to pick up after himself, but watch the way you're scolding him. Don't insult him and don't sound angry, but tell him firmly but GENTLY. It's important to remember that you're correcting the messy habit, NOT the boy.

The first time, maybe you could help him clean his room. Tell him that since he's getting older, he should get a little responsibility. His room is his. Little kids love it when they get to feel more grown up. Start small, e.g. picking up toys, bringing his finished plate to the kitchen sink, making the bed. You're developing habits, here.

Another approach is to let the room get messier and messier, to the point that your son will actually WANT to clean his room when he realizes the discomfort of an extremely messy room.

It also sounds like you're frustrated at the fact that you feel like you have to do *everything* for *everybody*, like they're just making you work and work? Don't keep your sentiments bottled up. Make it clear to your husband that you feel like you're unfairly doing all the housework, and would appreciate it if he would do his share. Like I said, be firm. Don't wait until you explode with frustration at your family, and don't make your son's messiness a scapegoat for all your woes.

Good luck.

Answer 5

kids that age don't do well with blanket statements. they need direction. instead of saying go clean your room. give him baskets or bins, somewhere to put different types of his toys. tell him that all his action figures go in the blue basket. his cars go in the red one etc. put labels on his dresser drawers that say "t-shirts" "pants' etc so he knows where his clothes go. it really helps because if the room is really messy he can get overwelmed and not know where to start so instead of trying he'll just stand there and look at the mess. help him clean his room step by step. not by doing it for him but rather by giving him directions. say first clean up the cars and the racetrack then pick up all the t-shirts. becareful not to give him to many steps at once. only 2 or three at a time or he'll get overwhelmed again. I hope this helps it did with my own kids.

Answer 6

Too early of an age?  He should have been doing it for years already.  Take a day and go through all his things.  Make a give away pile and a garbage pile and find a place for everything else.  There is no reason for him not to clean his own room.

Answer 7

tell him that if he keeps his room clean for 1 week he can get a treat like a toy or candy maybe take him somewhere and if he doesnt ground him for 2-3 days and if he does he will probably keep it clean!!!

Answer 8

no kids keep there roooms clean

its just life to us we dont care if we have stuff ont eh floor its our room so whatever

Answer 9

No mam, I don't think you are being too harsh  with your son! He's quite old enough to clean up after himself, and you having to do all, isn't right! I'm with you when I was younger we(the entire family)had 1 tv, no satalite,no dvds, no vcrs, so mam this is what I suggest to you: When you ask your son to clean his room up, so people can see the floor, and he does not, take away the the dvds, then the vcrs, and his cell phone (if he has one), then the last but not least the TV & Satalite!! And keep them away from him until he wants to start listening to you with his chores! Mam, when I growing up(like you maybe), there was no computers, no games to be played on computers, no hand held games to play, I guess I grew up with (nothing), but you know what I was a happier kid, went out to play,had chores to do (did them), was tired of a night went to sleep, you I lived on a farm, lots of chores to do, and yes had to clean my room,did it, because I knew if I didn't I would a butt kickin from either my dad,or my mom, but you know yeah, I got my butt whppied some, but it has made me who I am today! It gave me morals, and a solid foundation to bring up my kids with, and I don't think I did to bad,my only daughter is 33 yrs.,and 3 sons(1-31 yrs.old,1 is 24 yrs.old, and my last one is 23 yrs.old) my daughter has 4 boys, my 31 yr.old is in the service, my 24 is a artist (draws free-handed), my 3rd son, is getting married w/ a 3 yr.old son. In the Bible mam it says:SPARE THE ROD--SPOIL THE CHILD), every child needs corrections of some type through-out his life, so maybe if you stared again [with your son without all the things,you never had], maybe he would  have a  mind to listen to you, and care about his room, and his possessions!Just my thoughts,Good Luck!May God Bless you and your family!I'm not telling you mam how to correct your child, I was stating a fact (about me), the way you do is right for you!

Answer 10

he is still young , if you want to teach him to depend on himself start to let him help you with his room , dont do it alone and dont let him do it alone , do it together in a nice atmosphere and dont get bored bec he will thing it is a boring thing , let him enjoy making his room tidy, afterwards he will try to surprise you to show you his effort , good luck

please note , children sometimes are distracted with different things so if they forget to do something as they were told dont be very upset , they are still children, we were too

Answer 11

That's not too early at all. And if that's all he's responsible for at 7, he's a lucky boy. :) I don't think children should be expected to do chores (like mopping or vacuuming, etc.) but if you teach them that picking up after themselves, and putting the toys away when you are done is part of playing with them, it goes a long way.

My 4 year old has been picking up after himself a little at a time as he becomes more able to do so - that includes picking up his toys at night, putting his clothes in the hamper when he takes them off, and taking his plate and cup to the sink after his meals. These are small things for me, but big accomplishments for him.

He is happy to do it right now because he knows he's helping. That happiness will wear off as he gets older, but the good habits won't go so easily.

Answer 12

Well he is only 7 and although he should be learning responsibility you're sounding a little harsh and frustrated.  Frustrated like maybe you are using this as a way to relieve other issues in your life.

That being said.  I would start by going through his belongings and making a decision about what stuff to keep and what stuff to get rid of.  Possibly when he isn't home.  Don't be cruel and just get rid of stuff just to get rid of it but get rid of stuff you know that he would only want because he knew you were getting rid of it.

When that is taken care of try setting up a plan for him to follow.  Shelves and baskets, storage systems in the closet etc.  If he is reading labels would be good so that he knows just where they should be.  Even though it may not sink in right away encourage the one toy at a time mentality.  Before bed every night put into place a 15 minute "fire drill" where you run around like crazyness picking up as much as you can...no yelling and barking orders just having fun.

Don't loose sight of the fact he is still a child, not an adult.  And you still need to be responsible for deep cleaning...dusting, vacuuming, windows etc.

Answer 13

hes a boy think about it...