When young children are learning to put away their toys and other work, it’s helpful to have a clean up song. Singing while cleaning up simply makes the process of cleaning up more fun.
Cleaning Up Her Work at 17 Months
My family’s favorite clean up song came from Barney. We didn’t have a television when my children were little, but we did have a video monitor that we used to watch some videos. My daughter, Christina, especially fell in love with Barney videos. Barney’s “Clean Up Song” became our official clean up song.
“Barney: The Clean Up Song” – Video
Introducing the “Clean Up Song” to Babies and Toddlers
I started singing the “Clean Up Song” while showing my granddaughter, Zoey, how to put away her toys as a baby. Soon she began singing the song along with me and putting away some of her toys … inconsistently, of course. It’s one of my husband’s favorite things when he hears Zoey singing her “Clean Up Song.”
After I introduced how to carry a basket and tray and put away work on the shelf, I typically started singing the “Clean Up Song” whenever I wanted Zoey to remember to put her work away before getting out something new. I also sang it before her mom came to pick her up to encourage a clean up time at the end of the day. (Note: Toddlers are typically inconsistent with cleaning up. Cleaning up is a process for them to learn, so don’t worry about the time it takes for it to become consistent throughout the day.)
You’ll see how Zoey started spontaneously singing her version of the “Clean Up Song” when she was ready to put away her work in our latest video.
More Fun Clean Up Songs
You’ll find lots of free, fun clean up (tidy up) songs and rhymes in this round up post.
Teaching Toddlers to Put Away Their Work
You can see how we introduce rules and routines to toddlers in this post with video: “Introducing Montessori Rules and Routines to a Toddler.
Age-Appropriate Chores for Children {Free Printables}
If you’d like ideas of age-appropriate chores your child can do, check out this post with lots of links to free printables: “Age-Appropriate Chores for Children {Free Printables}.”
Does your family have a favorite clean up song?
Learn more about Montessori at Home or School: How to Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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We made up our own clean up song when my son was 3. He is now 8 and we have a toddler and both still sing the clean up song when doing chores 🙂
I remember Barneys clean up song! That is something that I learned as a child. This definitely helped me clean up my room and such. Sometimes, I would clean my room while singing, without being asked.