Motivating a preschooler to clean up can be as frustrating as herding cats. Instead of sending your toddler into a tailspin when playtime is over, encourage him to sing along to make the job go faster.
C-L-E-A-N
(to the tune of “B-I-N-G-O”)
There was a boy who made a mess and Mommy said to clean up.
C-L-E-A-N, C-L-E-A-N, C-L-E-A-N,
And Mommy said to clean up.
(For subsequent verses, pick up a toy in place of the letter C, then CL and so on.)
Time to Set the Table
(to the tune of “Old MacDonald”)
Set the table for our meal,
It’s dinner time, you know!
And on our table, we need some PLATES,
Wonder where they go?
A PLATE goes here, a PLATE goes there.
Here a PLATE, there a PLATE, everywhere a PLATE, PLATE.
Set the table for our meal,
It’s dinner time, you know!
(Also use fork, knife, spoon, glass, bowl, and napkin.)
Clean, Clean, Clean Your Room
(Sung to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”)
Clean, clean, clean your room,
Just as Mom would do.
Dust and fold and make the bed,
And pick the toys up, too.
If Your Clothes Are On the Floor
(to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
If your clothes are on the floor,
pick them up.
If your clothes are on the floor,
pick them up.
If your clothes are on the floor,
then please don’t leave them there,
If your clothes are on the floor,
pick them up.
(For other verses, exchange clothes for toys, books, LEGOs, dolls, etc.)
The Dishes Song
(to the tune of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”)
This is the way we wash a cup, wash a cup, wash a cup.
This is the way we wash a cup, so the dishes will be done.
(For other verses, exchange cup for glass, spoon, fork, knife, plate, and bowl.)
Clean Up the Toys
(to the tune of “The Addams Family”)
Clean up the toys (snap, snap).
Clean up the toys (snap, snap).
Clean up the toys
Clean up the toys
Clean up the toys (snap, snap).
There’s LEGOs and there’s dollies,
Lots of trucks and Barbies,
Play food, balls, and drawings,
And lots of board games, too.
Clean up the toys (snap, snap).
Clean up the toys (snap, snap).
Clean up the toys.
Clean up the toys.
Clean up the toys (snap, snap).
The Toys on the Floor
(to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”)
The LEGOs on the floor go in the bin,
In the bin,
In the bin.
The LEGOs on the floor go in the bin,
Look! It’s almost clean.
Other verses include:
The dolls on the floor go in their beds.
The books on the floor go on the shelf.
The crayons on the floor go in the box.
The cars on the floor go in their garage.
The animals on the floor go to the zoo.
The clothes on the floor go in the hamper.
The shoes on the floor go on the rack.
