Don’t Lose Your Mind!
As a busy mother of four and former preschool teacher, I have learned a very important lesson. Keep your children busy so you don’t lose your mind. When my first two children came along, I worried about the mess that they would create. Since having two more, I have learned that the mess they create when you have something for them to do is nothing compared to the messes they can make when they don’t. So my rule is, “Don’t let them get bored.”
“So”, you ask, “ how do you accomplish this?” I have several simple and frugal suggestions.
1. Save your egg cartons for sorting small things. Children, even the older kids, love to sort. Add a set of tongs. This is great for developing motor skills in young children.
2. Play-doh! Play-doh is a very cheap way to keep your children busy. My oldest all the way down to my youngest love to play with play-doh. I always hear parents say, “It is too messy.” But if you throw down a plastic shower curtain, the mess is contained. Throw in some cookie cutters and a rolling pin or two and you have at least 1 hour of fun. And if you don’t want to buy it, there are several sources on the internet for making your own. There is even a recipe for a fruity play-doh.
3. All kids love to play in shaving cream. You can get a bottle of shaving cream for under $1 at the dollar store and you can have loads of fun. Also it gets your table shiny and clean.
4. You need a good set of building blocks (initially they cost a little more but are well worth the cost) and a cheap set of plastic animals. This is another activity that will keep your children busy for hours.
5. Lastly, a sand table (any kind of sturdy, shallow, plastic box with a lid will do). This is a great rainy day activity. Again, throw your plastic shower curtain down on the floor and let the kids dig, dig, dig. We like to hide dinosaur bones (broken cotton swabs) or small treasures (coins, nuts, bolts, etc.) in ours and pretend to be treasure hunters.
Next time your kids are driving you crazy and you feel like you are losing your mind, pull out these few suggestions and enjoy a little peace and quiet.
Tami is a former teacher. She is now a stay-at-home mom and has four children. She enjoys writing about their everyday life and the adventures that motherhood brings. You can find her at Muddlin’ Thru Motherhood.
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Tags: blogathon, blogging, blogs, motherhoodRelated Stories
POSTED IN: blogathon, children's activity
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