From the author: Article from the site Now I will share with you my recent insight into what needs to be done to teach children to put things back in their place. But first, three stories about what not to do. Story 1. About me My mother is choleric, she needs not only to get clean, but also to get clean FAST. Therefore, throughout my golden childhood, she cleaned up the house herself, rightly believing that it was faster to clean everything herself than to wait for me to do it. She hoped that by living in cleanliness and order, I would learn to have this cleanliness and order in my own home. I learned to wait for someone to put things in order for me. I throw things wherever I have to - and they lie around for weeks. It’s very difficult for me now to develop simple habits - putting things back in their place every time, washing the dishes immediately after eating, dusting regularly... Story 2. About my husband My husband’s mother taught him order in this way: she forced him to put his things back in their place. Shout, scold, scare - and then a small child does what is required of him. She hoped that by regularly tidying up, her son would get used to doing it on his own. He is used to putting things back in their place only when it is required of him. Therefore, he throws things wherever he has to - and they lie around for weeks. And it seems to me that it is very difficult for him now to develop simple habits - putting things back in their place every time, washing the dishes immediately after eating, taking out the trash... Story 3. About our children Well, my husband and I - how? We are waiting for someone to put things in order for us or, in extreme cases, force us to do it. That's why our house is a constant mess. And we raise our children the same way we were raised - I often quickly do everything for them, and my husband calls them to order in a menacing voice. More often than not, we do NOTHING. With the secret hope that if children see constant chaos and disorder, then as a protest they will develop a craving for order and cleanliness. I don’t know how it will be for them in adult life, but for now they calmly step over mountains of toys on the floor, indifferently leave dirty plates on the table, throw clothes right on the doorstep... So, in order to teach children to put things back in their place, you need follow three simple points: 1. The habit of tidying up needs to be formed (that is, you need to make an effort to get it in children).2. You need to do it not instead, but TOGETHER (even if it takes a long time and is not as good as adults do, but in the future it will become a habit for the child)3. In order for a child to agree to clean up the mess with you, he must be asked or persuaded, and then thanked (yes, yes, positive reinforcement is foreve!)