Finding Their Way Home

Cleaning up after ourselves is one of the biggest challenges in our household (and not just for my children...ahem...) so I am always looking for new and creative ways to make clean-up time not only easier, but also less intimidating and more fun!

For young children, I've found that a good way to explain the process is to tell them that each of their toys has a home. Toys that are left on the floor or anywhere they don't belong are lost, and the child needs to help them find their way to their home. If there are any toys that don't have a home, the child should make a home for them.

This little trick is a great way to teach very young kids about cleaning, and to explain the concept of, "a place for everything and everything in its place." It helps them take ownership over their things by giving them control over where they choose to keep them. It also makes clean-up time something of a fun experience as the children pick up each toy and say, "Hello Mr. Teddy! Are you lost? Here, your home is right here on my bed. There you go!" and "Oh, poor little block. You are sitting out on the floor all by yourself. Let's go get you back with the rest of your friends in the block box."

Now if only I could teach my husband to help his dirty socks find their way to their home in the hamper... ;-)

What Should You Do?

At church my children frequently play versions of the "What Should You Do?" game. In this simple game, a child chooses a slip of paper from a jar. On the paper, a fictional scenario is described and it is up to the child to decide what should be done in that particular situation. For example,

You are playing outside when your ball accidentally rolls into your neighbor's flower bed. What should you do?

The child would respond with something like, "I would go over to my neighbor's house and tell her what happened, then ask if I can get my ball and find out if there is a way I can make up for the damage the ball did."

Like I said, it's a simple game but it gives children an opportunity to practice their moral decision-making skills. I have discovered that I can use the format of this game to help my children make good real-life decisions as well. For example, if my son takes a toy from my daughter, rather than scold him and ask him to return it, I might pull him aside and say, "'A' has a toy that 'T' wants to play with. He asks her for it but she says no. What should he do?" By putting it in that format, my son quickly realizes the error of his ways and knows what he needs to do to rectify the situation.

This little game can defuse an emotional situation and allow the child a clearer perspective on their part in the disagreement by allowing them to see it from the outside. It also turns potentially negative conflict situations into a positive learning opportunity and invites a happier spirit into the home. :-)

A Fine Day For a Picnic!

Just because it's winter and you may have six inches of snow on the ground doesn't mean it's not a fine day for a picnic! Grab a tablecloth, blanket, or even just a few towels spread out on the floor and have an indoor picnic!

I did this with my kids last night because we just finished reading The Swiss Family Robinson and the movie was going to be playing on tv during dinnertime, so we decided to make an event of it. I spread out a tablecloth on the floor, made dinner as usual and just put the plates on the floor. We got to watch our movie, eat our dinner, and then clean-up was a snap! The kids loved the change of pace and I enjoyed it as well.

Go on, it's a lovely day for a picnic!

Love Bugs

For a fun (and super easy!) Valentines (or anytime you want to show someone some love!) craft idea, check out my other blog- The Beautiful Thrifty Life. :-)

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Love Coupons

Do you need a fun, free, last-minute Valentines Day gift for your kids? Make love coupons!! I made these for my kids for Christmas, and they were one of their favorite Christmas gifts. I kept mine very simple and made each child 5 coupons:

- 2 Free Room Cleaning coupons

- 2 Extra Treat coupons

- 1 Free Playroom Cleaning coupon

Whenever a child was asked to clean their room or the playroom, they could choose to use one of their coupons instead! The treat coupons are for whenever they want an unscheduled treat during the day or if we're having something for dinner that they just can't bring themselves to eat, then the coupon allows them to still get a dessert.

Here are a few extra tips for your coupons:

- Print them up on the computer to make them look official!

- Decorate them with stickers just for fun

- Add the child's initial to each of their coupons so they don't get mixed up

- Add an expiration date to make sure they use them!

- Present them in a special envelope that has their name on it. You can even decorate it with more stickers!

- Keep the envelopes in a safe place!

- After the coupon has been redeemed, be sure to tear it up and throw it away- no two-fers!

Do you have anything special planned for your kids for Valentines Day??

Mommy Playtime!

I ended up with the watercolors tray that was pretty much used up except for black, brown, and a little bit of orange...and so Mr. Snowman was born!

If you're a busy mom like I am, you probably don't often have time to yourself to pursue your own interests. Luckily, as your children grow, you can find ways to incorporate your own personal interests into the time you spend with your kids.

My kids love to paint (I think most kids do!) and I used to just sit down with them and paint random rainbows while I thought about the laundry that needed folding in the next room. One day I thought, Hey, I used to be pretty artsy back in the day. I wonder what I could create if I really tried? So when I sat down to do some watercolor painting I really thought about what I wanted to paint. It was fall at the time, and I was in love with the beautiful colors on the trees, so I painted a tree, trying to capture all of the lovely fall color. Not only did I get to spend time sharing a fun activity with my children, but I was able to tap into my artistic side and create something truly beautiful. It was a wonderful feeling- I was able to just slip into this world of paint and color and I got so involved with my painting that more than an hour passed without me even realizing it!

Since then, I have taken every opportunity to sit down and not just nurture my children's creativity, but mine as well. If you enjoy reading, then find a good chapter book that both you and your children will enjoy. If you enjoy sports, then get the kids outside with you to play! The best thing about being a mom is that you get to play like a kid!!

What is your favorite thing to do with your children that is also nurturing yourself?

Owies!

Children are klutzy, it's a fact. This is another reason that I feel so connected with my children- I, too, am a complete klutz. Well, there are few things more painful and embarrassing then oh, say, running into a wall, tripping over one's feet, banging one's head on...anything... These things are just as painful for kids!

The next time your child has an unpleasant encounter with an inanimate object, blame the object. If they stubbed their toe on a corner, say, "What? That mean little corner tried to get you? Bad corner!! You leave my baby alone! Shame on you, picking on poor innocent children. What did he ever do to you? You need a time out!" Encourage your child to scold the corner as well. Their tears will turn to giggles in an instant!