Stop Dreading Clean-Up Time: Try This Instead
Imagine this: you’re watching your favorite show, eating your favorite snack, and right in the middle of it someone turns off the screen and says, “Time to move on!” You’d probably feel frustrated, confused, or even upset.
That’s exactly how preschoolers feel when we swoop in unprompted and say, “Clean up, it’s time for the next thing.” Kids have real needs and preferences, and transitions are hard. But clean-up doesn’t have to be a battle. With a few simple tools, you can turn those tricky moments into opportunities for joy, teamwork, and even discipleship.
1. Play the Clean-Up Song
Pick one fun, upbeat song and use it every single week. For us, we use “The Clean Up Rap” by KidSpring. (It may or may not have been my most played Spotify song three years running!) When the music starts, kids know what’s coming — no yelling, no stress. Two minutes of music = two minutes of clean-up. Preschoolers thrive on consistency, and the song serves as a cue that motivates them to move. You can find so many clean-up songs online. Find one that you like, and then stick with it so that the kids become familiar with it.
2. Set the Timer
Preschoolers thrive when they know what comes next, and a clear countdown gives them both structure and motivation. Using a sand timer, a visual countdown clock, or even a phone timer projected on the wall takes the mystery out of “when will this be over?” and turns it into a challenge they can visualize.
The beauty of the timer is that it transforms clean-up from an open-ended task into a fun race. Instead of dragging their feet, kids are suddenly working together toward a shared goal: finishing before the sand runs out. Every child becomes part of the “team,” and every piece of cleanup feels like progress toward victory.
To make it even more engaging:
Narrate the countdown: “One minute left! Thirty seconds! Last five seconds — let’s see if we can do it!”
Celebrate the win: Cheer, clap, or give high fives when the room is clean before the timer ends.
Keep it consistent: Like the countdown song, use the same two-minute routine every week so kids learn to expect the rhythm.
3. Give Out Special Jobs
Instead of a free-for-all, assign kids their “mission”: “Emma, you’re in charge of cars. Noah, you’ve got the blocks.” Preschoolers light up when they’re trusted with responsibility. It channels their energy and makes clean-up fast, giving them a sense of mission and ownership.
As they work, narrate the wins out loud so everyone feels seen and motivated:
“I see Emma gathering those cars perfectly!”
“Noah is scooping blocks like a pro!”
“Look at how Ella is helping her friends. She’s a great team player!”
Narrating wins does two things at once: it reinforces positive behavior in the moment and it encourages the other kids to jump in and do their part. Preschoolers love hearing their names, and what gets praised gets repeated!
4. Make It a Game
Preschoolers are made to play, so why not use that to your advantage during clean-up? Instead of just saying, “Put the toys away,” turn it into a game that sparks their imagination.
You might say:
“Let’s see if we can get every block back home before the timer runs out!”
“Can we make all the toys disappear like superheroes cleaning the city?”
“Who wants to be on the Puzzle Patrol today?”
“Gamifying” clean-up time can transform it from a boring task into an adventure. Kids stop dragging their feet and start leaning in with excitement. They actually want to participate. By seeing clean-up as play, it naturally shifts their mindset from doing what they’re told to doing something fun and important.
Why This Matters
Clean-up is part of how we disciple children. You’re teaching kids:
Stewardship: We care for what God has given us.
Teamwork: We work together to bless others.
Obedience: We listen and respond with joy.
So next time you have a room full of preschoolers, try this: press play on your clean-up song, set the 2-minute timer, and hand out special jobs. You’ll be amazed at how quickly order replaces chaos, and how Jesus uses even clean-up time to shape little hearts.