Clean Up the Rubbish (For Babies)

This classic KIDDO game can be adapted to suit even the youngest of movers. Great indoors or outdoors and can help you clean up the play area!

Set up

Scatter a few bean bags or small balls on a small area on the floor. Have a bucket/ tub/ basket close by that the child can easily reach into. Alternatively, you can use a play area with toys already scattered around. Baby can be sitting or standing, ensure the bucket or tub is an appropriate height for the child (i.e., small walled tub for a baby sitting).

How to play

Step 1

Demonstrate what to do by picking up a toy and putting it in the bucket, and explain what you are doing: “I’m cleaning up all the toys into the bucket, would you like to help?”

Step 2

Sitting, crawling or standing, the baby picks up toys and puts them in the bucket
Demonstrate how to squat down to pick up toys while standing, this helps develop the balance and leg strength needed for walking

Step 3

Once all the toys have been cleaned up, you may want to take the toys out and make the area ‘messy’ again or move to a new area
Try picking the toys up and throwing them, to engage with the children through demonstration and prompting: “oh my look how messy these toys are! Let's clean them together”.

Variations

Make it harder