If this was me and my house the child would keep their things in their room or if I stepped on it it went in the garbage. that kind of thing in my house is a serious health problem because of my health problems stepping on things leads to my falling and possible broken bones and such. So from day one my child was raised knowing he got something out it needed to be taken care of or I threw it away if I stepped on it.

My rule is If children can crawl to the toy box to take the toys out they know and can put them away with help.

Its just a matter of the parent following through each and every time.

In my house my son also knew that his room had to be picked up by bedtime. That way yesterdays mees doesn't carry over into today mess making it harder for him to keep things together. If he couldn't find something I didn't go looking for it regardless of if it was a toy or homework. He soon learned that if he didn't want to take the consequenses of lost homework and not being able to find that favorite toy he kept his room clean.

He also knew I did straight through cleaning with the season changes. That way things used for summer - shorts and so on were not out during the winter. Part of that cleaning process is THROWING AWAY not putting away anything that was ripped, torn or broken.

With winter cleaning comes going through the toys and so on. if they are outgrown but in good condition they go to goodwill, st vincent du paul, and so on. depending on the item if it is a favorite it is kept or put away for instance my son has a box in the closet that right now holds his last glow worm (#5), two fire trucks that his father gave him (his father is dead) cards and letters he recieved over the years. Some pictures of toys he wanted to keep but he knew he never played with them and he was too old for them when we gave them away so he brought them to me to take a picture of first.

He also had a favorites box (a little bigger than a shoe box) for in his room. if it didn't fit in the box he either had to get rid of something in the box or get rid of what he was trying to keep.

And I also did once a week cleaning of his room which included my throwing out or removed things that were not in his favorites box.