How Cleaning Up Toys Strengthens Executive Functioning Skills 

Written by Evelyn Cucchiara, The Toy Tamer

Cleaning up toys might seem like a simple chore, but for kids, it’s actually a powerful exercise in building executive functioning skills. These skills—like planning, organization, task initiation, and self-regulation—are essential for success in school, relationships, and everyday life.  

1. Planning & Organization 

When children put toys away, they have to think about where each item belongs. This requires them to recall the original location, categorize objects, and decide how to fit everything back in an organized way. These are the same skills they’ll use later when organizing schoolwork, following multi-step directions, or managing their time.  

2. Task Initiation & Follow-Through 

Executive functioning helps kids start and complete tasks. If a playroom is overwhelming, children may struggle to begin the clean-up process. However, when they develop routines and understand where things go, they gain confidence in starting and finishing the task independently. This skill translates into completing homework, chores, and responsibilities as they grow.  

3. Working Memory 

Remembering where toys belong, following clean-up instructions, and recalling past experiences with cleaning up all rely on working memory. Strengthening this skill helps children retain information in school, such as multi-step math problems or instructions from teachers.  

4. Impulse Control & Self-Regulation 

It’s common for kids to get distracted while cleaning up—playing with a toy instead of putting it away. Learning to stay on task despite distractions is a critical part of self-regulation and impulse control, which are foundational skills for managing emotions, staying focused in class, and handling social interactions.  

5. Flexibility & Problem-Solving  

Sometimes, toys don’t fit back the way they originally did, or a missing puzzle piece disrupts the process. Cleaning up teaches children to adjust, problem-solve, and find alternative solutions—key aspects of cognitive flexibility that help them handle unexpected challenges in life.  

By making clean-up a consistent and structured routine, parents can support their child’s executive functioning development in a natural and practical way.  
Want more tips on how to set up a playroom that fosters these skills? Check out my website, The Toy Tamer.