Get kids to pick up with a scavenger hunt game.

Here is a fun game that our kids love to play. The messier the room, the better. The kids split up into teams (optional: mom & dad can be on a team also).
Each team is given a list of items to find like something I wear, something red, something fuzzy, something I played with this week, something I can read, something that's in the wrong room,etc.
Using a timer, the teams race to see who can find the most things in each category. They have to bring them to a central location - we use our dining room table.
Every item is worth one point.
Next, the teams race to see who can put each of their items into the correct place, and then return to the central location.
The fastest team get 5 bonus points.
Then, mom checks to see that everything is put away properly. Anything out of place is a deduction of one point. (If putting things in their proper place is an issue that needs to be addressed; mom and dad can up the deduction amount to a higher more motivating number).
The team with the highest score wins the round.
Go for another round, or change things up by switching around some team members.

Only have one child? You will have to be the opposing team!

The author of this blog, Corinne Johnson is a Christian homeschooling mom of six, a help meet to her husband and the author of Vacation Education Books.