House Cleaning Activity and “Llama Llama Mess, Mess, Mess” Book Review

by Ashley Beecher

In Llama Llama Mess, Mess, Mess, authors Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan deal with a concept that every family with kids has faced: cleaning up the toys. Llama Llama doesn’t want to clean up his toys when Mama Llama asks and together they imagine what it would be like if nobody cleaned up after themselves. They conclude that they wouldn’t like the consequences and Mama Llama teaches Llama Llama that cleaning is for grownups and little llamas.

This book combines colorful illustrations, by JT Morrow, with sing-song rhyming text and the moral of cleaning up after yourself. Plus, as Mama Llama and Llama Llama imagine what a mess their house would be without any cleaning, their antics are sure to get kids laughing.

As Mama Llama and Llama Llama clean up together, they give specific instructions that will help kids learn to clean in their own home–like putting things back in their spot or checking under the bed. It makes it easy to open a discussion about the ways to clean in your own house.

To buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Learn to clean up, just like Llama Llama–but first you’ll have to make a mess! Put all the toys in the house and then practice cleaning by putting everything back on the shelf.

Supplies:

House Cleaning Printout (see below), scissors, crayons or other coloring utensils

Directions:

1. Color the house and the toys. Cut out the toys, making sure to keep the numbers on them.
2. Make a mess! Put all the objects onto the house. Then discuss what would happen if someone tried to play in that house. (Is there space? Would someone step on something and get hurt?)
3. Now, move each object onto the shelf into the correct number spot. What would it be like to play in that house if everything is cleaned up on the shelf?

Different Variations:

• For Younger Children: Don’t worry about the numbers, just have them put the toys on the shelf wherever they like.
• For Older Children: In addition to the activity, let your child organize their own room, giving each thing a place. Give them a blank piece of paper (or use the back of the printouts) to make a sign or poster as a reminder to put their belongings away.