-Don’t just say “clean up.” It is easy for a preschooler to be overwhelmed by a big mess, often because they don’t know where to start. Instead, try “Put away your cars first and then move to the books.” By breaking the job down into little tasks, seemingly endless chores become manageable.

-Explain that if toys aren't put away correctly someone could trip and hurt themselves, or pieces could get lost and then playing with this particular toy next time won't be quite so fun. With young children, it is important to make a connection that they can relate to. 

-Place removable picture labels on drawers and bins to help kids learn where everything goes. Have your child either draw or cut out of magazines pictures of specific items (blocks, puzzles, games) that go into each one. Under the picture, neatly write the name of the item (great word recognition for pre-readers). When everything has a rightful place, it makes it that much easier to put them away
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-Blast Jack Hartman or The Storybots while clean-up time is underway. It makes the job go faster and the peppy music will keep your child in a good mood. Or sing your own songs. "This is the way we pick up blocks, pick up blocks, pick up blocks. This is the way we pick up blocks, as we clean up your room!"

-When your child's room or playroom is finally clean, don’t redo what isn’t perfect. Lumpy bed sheets? No need to smooth them. Mismatched dollhouse furniture? Ignore it. As long as the job was done properly, just leave it be. A four-year-old will never clean up as well as an adult.

If you redo what they've already worked so hard to complete, your little one might not be so inclined next time to do the job since you fix it anyway. In this case, the end result is not as important as the effort.

When it comes to young children and eating breakfast, it’s important to provide foods that are rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein while low in added sugar. These foods may help boost your child’s attention span, concentration, and memory — which are necessary for optimal learning.