1) take plate to sink; 2) wipe your spot at the table; 3) put wrappers in the bin; 4) wash hands.
Free printable chart
One page, US Letter, with a box for every step and every day of the week. Put it on the fridge and let your child tick the boxes.
Prefer A4? It prints fine with “fit to page”.
The 4 steps, with a tip for you
- Take plate to sinkParent tip: Scrape leftovers first.
- Wipe your spot at the tableParent tip: A damp cloth and gentle motions.
- Put wrappers in the binParent tip: Check under the chair too.
- Wash handsParent tip: Soap, 20 seconds, dry well.
Make it a quest instead of a reminder
Instead of repeating the instruction, start with a tiny story. In Mess Monsters this routine opens like this: “Snack Crumb got confused by crumbs. Let's clean up after eating step by step so things feel calmer.”
You stay the game master. Your child does the real step, you confirm it on your phone, and Snack Crumb gets a little happier with every step. The phone stays with the adult; the routine happens in the real world.
Run this routine in Mess Monsters
Included in the free version of Mess Monsters. You can also make your own quest by describing the routine in your own words.
