Clean Up Time Thoughts

I'm wondering what everyone does at cleanup time. How do you get your class to stop play and clean up at the end of center time? Her are some thoughts that I have tried and seen in other classes and am trying now.

1.  Use a song to signal clean up time is here. It gives the auditory signal for your auditory children that there is a change coming in our day.

2.  Turn on overhead lights to give a visual brightness of the time to clean up. ( we keep our lights low for normal class time. I saw one of my team mates do this and loved it. She also does number 3 that I plan to try )

3. Use a magic wand to tap children on the head or shoulder that gives them permission to clean up and assign a specific job to them ( Please pick up the paper off the floor)

4.  Have pictures on shelves if you want things put back in a specific place. 

5. Have mini lessons with items from around the room and have children return the items to the correct center during this time.

6. Have children freeze at the start of clean up time or have them physically sit down at the group time to help them realize this is no longer play time.

7. Stickers are fabulous rewards!

I have a very young class this year that loves play. Clean up has been a challenge so far, but as they mature it will get better. Any ideas that you use for clean up time are welcome. I could definitely use some new tricks in my pocket!