But, we're here to help children learn, and tidying one's mess is an important life skill.

      How we set up the room can help with clean-up or complicate the problem. If toys are in deep bins and toy chests, children must empty all the bins to find the one toy they are searching for. All these toys on the floor lead to over-stimulated children. Frustration sets in when they have to put away the extra toys before playing. And, as they are putting away the mess, they often are distracted by another toy.

      A simple solution is to display toys in an organized manner on open shelves. The child can see and reach exactly what he is searching for.

      Each toy's space should be labeled to encourage easy clean up. Trace around the toy, or secure a picture of it on the shelf where the actual toy belongs. Catalog pictures or instant photographs work well. For variety, place toys, puzzles, or other items on a copy machine that has the ability to reduce the image. Use the cut-out copies as labels. Use words combined with pictures to label some places. Cover labels with clear adhesive-backed paper. At clean up time, children match real items to their pictures or outlines.

      Place similar toys together. Sort blocks by size and place each size in its own place on a labeled, open shelf. Place strips of adhesive-backed paper on a low shelf to form a parking lot for cars and trucks.

      Place hard hats and tools in the construction area. Hang pots, pans and kitchen utensils according to size on a pegboard. Outline each item on the board to help children find the right hook when they tidy the kitchen. Hang dress-up clothes on labeled hooks. The blue shirt has a small picture of a blue shirt above its hook; the wedding dress hangs below a bride's picture.

      Store crayons in clear plastic cups with all of one color in each cup. Children will only take what they need and will practice sorting skills as they put crayons away. Place different sizes of art paper in separate open boxes or baskets. Label each. Put scraps of construction paper in another labeled container. Let children help you label these.

      Help children learn clean-up skills by beginning the school year with a minimum of items in the classroom. During daily Circle Time for the first few weeks, show children where classroom equipment goes. Model putting things away, and give children opportunities to practice. Introduce new classroom items during Circle Time, and let children practice putting them away.

      When the clean-up seems overwhelming to children, help them break the job down into smaller tasks. Give suggestions: "John, put away just the yellow things in the Games Center." "Rafael, put away the small square blocks." "Alicia, put the small trucks on the red shelf. Alberto, put the large trucks on the bottom shelf." Always remind children to come see you when they finish that job. Then you can suggest another.

      With help and encouragement, your students will become so adept at putting things away, all you'll need to do is supervise. You'll have taught a valuable life skill and saved yourself many hours of classroom frustration as well.

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