Learning to Clean up After Playtime

Origins of Clean Up Song

The clean up or tidy up song is a traditional rhyme to help kids remember to clean up. The creator could be a teacher that wanted to help their children transition to clean up time. There have been many variations of the song. Barney released a clean up song ” clean up, clean up” in the episode “Campfire Sing-Along” released on June 1, 1990. Another famous children’s character Dora the Explorer came out with her version of the cleanup song In the episode ” Dora Saves The Mermaids” released on November 5, 2007. Many famous kid song artist have their own versions of the clean up song including The Laurie Berkner Band, and Super Simple Songs.

Why Clean up With A Song

The Clean up song helps children learn the rules. That after they play with there toys that they must put them away. A song might catch the children’s attention while they have already learned to tune talking out. A song is harder to ignore when they are engrossed in building with blocks, or their latest art project. Finally, a song is something that everyone can take part in. No matter the language or energy level of a child they can go along with the rhythm and help clean up. In fact, a good clean up song transition makes it appear more like a dance or a game rather than a chore.

The Benefits of the Clean Up Song

The Cleanup Song as mentioned before helps children learn the rules of cleaning up. It also helps young children learn responsibility, they took out the blocks and now they must put them away. It also helps them learn teamwork if the child is working together with others from his class to clean up. The song helps kids with understanding when things happen. If they clean up their toys every morning before they go out to play they know after they put everything away they are going outside. The song may use both gross and fine motor skills as the children are manipulating toys as they pick them up and put them back where they go. One final benefit to the cleanup song is it teaches vocabulary. Not only do young children hear the words clean up, but if you name each item, blocks, brushes, teddy bears, then it helps reinforce what the items are.

How To Implement the Cleanup Song

In a classroom setting use the song during a transitional period such as before morning recesses or at the end of the day when they are going home. Play or sing the song, twinkle twinkle little star lyrics, and show them what to do helping them pick up their area. At home, it might be good to know what clean up song the child’s school is using. That way you can use the same one at home when you help the child pick up the toys. If the child is an infant sing the song as you are cleaning. That way they will hear and recognize the song when they are old enough to help. Hand toys to a toddler and encourage them to put them away as you sing the song.