Does anyone have an idea about what to do when your young kids, who naturally love to play games and make believe, keep using all of the toys for things other than their intended purposes??? We play together all of the time, so it's not like they are ignored and bored, but what a mom I feel like when my kids constantly use swings for a jungle gym obsticle course, and a dirt pile and new pool for a 'hot chocolate maker' where they have to 'squish' the chocolate with their feet (like the below pool pics). Do I keep letting them have fun and possibly break something that costs US money if they use it for something other than it's intended purpose? My kids do this a lot, not just today, but also with their umbrellas, special dolls (that are not supposed to accompany them into the bath b/c not plastic) and I could go on...I guess I have been wondering for a while, how strict to be? I want them to have fun, but also to listen to me of course and not break things. Sometimes Isaiah says in a matter of factly voice, "but it is mine" or " you did give it to me". 'Tis a true statement and I usually then proceed to give him the 'mini lecture about being careful with our things and why' again. Am I being too lazy or selfish in wanting to keep things nice, or at least not broken and falling apart? and yet I also want the kids to be creative and have fun. Anyway, I am still looking for a good compromise between letting them grow in their creative ways, and being annoyed that nothing lasts around here very long. Maybe distraction or giving them a new idea is mostly the right answer, but not always acived or possible. So what do you think? What do you do?
My two hot chocolate makers...I hope they didn't taste it, but with how their faces looked...I don't know
3 comments:
That's a tough one, Krysten. It sounds like a classic case of having to choose your battles. You'll probably need to take it on a case by case basis. Know what I mean? If they are doing something that is going to ruin or trash the item that you got them, then I would teach them about treating their things with respect, and taking care of them. If they're not going to ruin the item, then let them play and use their imagination and creativity. What do you think about that?
R
I've had a little taste of this with Isaac already. We got him a Leap Frog toy for the fridge, and instead of trying to figure out the magnets, he likes to throw them off the fridge and take the barn and BANG it really REALLY hard on our tile floor. At first I was like, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I tried to show him how to use it, but he continues to bang it on the floor. I was afraid it would break. But so far it seems very durable. Then I had to come to terms with the fact that he's not yet one, he's exploring the sound of things (especially against our tile floor), and ... he's a BOY. They tend to bang things up and get roudy. :)
R
Admittedly, I'm not good in these situations. In fact, I'm sure my children will grow up creatively stunted. I have definitely enforced an "inside vs. outside toy" rule, and I usually don't let them do things to destroy the toys (unless it's the annoying kind that makes noise). But that's just me. Like I said, my kids will probably be stunted in that area. So, I guess I have no advice for you. Sorry! :)
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