Casey the Cat and the Clean-Up Song - A Children's Story

Casey the Cat and the Clean-Up Song

By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral to the Story:
Cleaning up is not just a chore; it is an opportunity to learn responsibility and teamwork. When parents join their children in cleaning, they teach by example instead of just giving orders. Singing a fun song while cleaning makes the work feel lighter and turns it into family play. Putting toys and things back where they belong keeps the home safe and peaceful. Vacuuming, washing dishes, and tidying up are all ways to show love for your home. When everyone participates together, the work is done faster and with more joy. A clean space teaches respect for belongings and appreciation for what you have. By turning cleanup into a family tradition, children learn lessons that last a lifetime.

Casey the Cat loved to play. He had building blocks that stacked into towers, puzzle pieces that made big colorful pictures, and toy cars that zoomed across the living room floor. But when Casey played, he left everything scattered everywhere.

One afternoon, Mama Cat walked into the living room and stopped. She stepped carefully around toy blocks and little puzzle pieces. “Oh my,” she said gently, “I think the living room has turned into a toy jungle.”

Casey looked up from his toy cars. “But I’m still playing!” he protested.

Papa Cat came in, carrying a laundry basket. He chuckled. “It looks like your toys had a party while we weren’t watching!”

Casey frowned. “I don’t like cleaning up. It takes too long, and it’s not fun.”

Mama Cat knelt beside him. “That’s why we do it together. Cleaning up is a family affair. We don’t just tell you to clean up; we show you how, and we make it fun.”

Casey tilted his head. “Fun? Cleaning up isn’t fun.”

Papa Cat winked. “Oh, but it can be. That’s why we have the Clean-Up Song.”

Casey’s ears perked up. “Clean-Up Song?”

Mama Cat smiled and began to sing:

🎵
Clean up, clean up, it’s clean-up time.
Pick up the toys and make them shine.
Clean up, clean up, we all take part.
Cleaning together is where we start!
🎵

Papa Cat joined in with a broom in his paws:

🎵
Sweep, sweep, sweep the floor.
Working together makes it less of a chore.
Wash, wash, wash the dishes too,
It’s cleanup time for me and you!
🎵

Casey giggled. “That sounds silly!”

“Try it,” Mama Cat encouraged, handing him a toy car.

Casey sang softly:

🎵
Clean up, clean up, it’s clean-up time.
This car goes back; hey, that’s just fine!
🎵

He dropped the car into its bin and smiled. “Hey! That is fun!”

Soon, the whole Cat family was singing as they cleaned. Mama Cat stacked books on the shelf, Papa Cat vacuumed under the couch, and Casey scooped up blocks and puzzles, humming the song the whole time.

The next day, after dinner, Mama Cat said, “Alright, time to clean the kitchen together.”

Casey groaned. “But I didn’t make the mess!”

Papa Cat patted his shoulder. “That’s true, but we are a family. Families work together, and when everyone helps, the job gets done faster. Let’s sing our song.”

Casey sighed, but Mama Cat started softly:

🎵
Clean up, clean up, it’s clean-up time.
Put away dishes so they all align.
Clean up, clean up, we all take part.
Cleaning together is where we start!
🎵

Papa Cat added his own verse:

🎵
Dry the plates, stack them high,
Working together, the minutes fly.
Wipe the counters, sweep the floor,
Helping each other means fewer chores!
🎵

Casey found himself laughing again. He carried spoons to the drawer, stacked cups in the cabinet, and wiped crumbs from the table.

When they finished, the kitchen sparkled. Mama Cat held Casey’s paw. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

Casey grinned. “The song makes it go fast.”

On Saturday morning, Papa Cat said, “Today is family clean-up day. We’ll tackle the whole house together.”

Casey’s eyes went wide. “The whole house?”

Mama Cat nodded. “Don’t worry, we’ll divide the jobs, and we’ll all sing while we work. It’ll be fun.”

They made a plan. Papa Cat vacuumed and dusted, Mama Cat did laundry, and Casey helped pick up toys, fold small towels, and even carry socks to the drawer.

Together they sang:

🎵
Clean up, clean up, it’s clean-up time.
Work with a smile; it’s really fine.
Clean up, clean up, don’t delay,
We’ll make it fun along the way!
🎵

Papa Cat laughed. “Casey, you’re good at making up new verses!”

Casey blushed but felt proud. He realized that cleaning wasn’t about doing everything perfectly. It was about doing his part and working as a team.

When the house was finally clean, the Cat family sat together with cookies and milk.

“See, Casey,” Papa Cat said, “cleaning up isn’t about punishment. It’s about responsibility and love.”

Mama Cat added, “And when we do it together, it becomes a memory we share.”

Casey licked cookie crumbs from his whiskers. “I like our song. Can we sing it every time we clean?”

“Of course,” Mama Cat said, hugging him.

From then on, whenever it was time to clean, whether picking up toys, folding laundry, or helping in the kitchen, the Cat family sang their Clean-Up Song. And work that once felt boring turned into laughter, music, and love.

Moral of the Story Poem

When everyone helps, the work feels light.
Cleaning together makes things right.
Toys in bins and dishes away,
A tidy home at the end of the day.
Singing a song makes chores more fun.
The work gets faster till it’s all done.
Helping each other shows the love we share.
A happy home because we care.

Discussion Questions

1.     Why did Casey not like cleaning up at first?

2.     How did Mama Cat and Papa Cat make cleaning up fun?

3.     What is one way you could help your family during cleanup time?