Ok so I have already said that I am taking toys away from my kids when they don't clean thier room in a significant amount of time... I am wondering which way is better to do this though - should I A) Set a time limit and come in after the time is up and have them toss thier toys in a trashbag? Or B) Monitor them by walking by the room every so often and everytime I see them stop and play with toys instead of cleaning them up have them throw the toy in the trashbag?
Or even any other ideas. I am still playing with the idea of giving them thier toys back for Christmas. I really do think it's a good idea I just want to be senstive to them as well. But that isn't what my question is about - it's more about HOW to take the toys away. I find that if I wait until the time is up they have been distracted most of the time and they lose a lot more toys.
Any parents who have used this technique please chime in!

my little man is still really small, but when I read your post I started kind of picturing this in my mind. I wonder of you did your second choice, and kept coming in periodacly and checking on them, and if they were playing, then to put their things in time out, like you said. I wonder if the toys were in a place they could see them somewhere, so they knew what they were missing, and then they had to earn them back with reward charts and good behavior over a period of time, including cleaing the room in the right way in a timely matter. Hope this makes sense. Like I said, I haven't been there myself, so I am not sure if it would even work...
Hope you have a good day
Winnie

how old are your kids?

Age..that was my ? as well. I have a 3yo & I try not to nag him..if at all possible. I am a bit on the obsessive side, so I try to remember others don't have that need for complete order like myself. But what I have tried to do is tell him once. If he doesn't do it, we take away something he enjoys doing. I also have a chore chart. If for instance he doesn't help make his bed, he doesn't get his star for the day. Then at the end of the week he doesn't get his allowance unless he fulfills all his chores.

I remember myself when my mom would tell me a thousand times about doing something... I would tune her out. I would say tell them once, then take away an activity or treat. Shut the door & try later.. don't keep up the nagging. It will take time, but eventually they will realize you mean business .. once is it!

We also have to remember to show grace to our kids as well... I really forget that sometimes!!

Oh sorry I thought everyone was clairvoyant - lol. Kaylis is 6 and Gavin will be 3 in December. I don't expect the same out of them of course, but I do expect that Gavin can clean. They have a bucket system in thier room and the buckets are labeled with pictures for what goes in them. Plus right now I am not worrying about that - just that they get the toys in the buckets. Motivation is a problem for my 6 year old. When she WANTS to clean her room she can get it done spotless in less than 15 min. I've seen her do it in 10. It's just finding the motivation for her. Which is eaiser said than done since her "currency" changes a lot!

My oldest is 2 and is required to pick up her room. Unfortunately she is ocd about it and takes too long so what we did is set an egg timer in her room and gave her 10 minutes to pick all her toys up. She has until she hears the timer go off and then she gets a spanking and has to go to bed without a bedtime story. The timer motivates her to clean up faster.
Another suggestion is to make a game out of it. Tell the kids that Mommy can pick up more toys than them and tell them it's a race to see who can pick up the most. Then reward them for picking up more toys than Mommy. This works well for younger kids that aren't strong~willed.
Ok I've rambled long enough.