WfmW: I’m Bored Edition
What works for me when I hear “Mom, I am bored?”
I put them to work. Really. Yes, work. Really.
Now I should mention here that we expect them to entertain themselves. As my husband’s mom use dto say–“I am NOT your entertainment committee.” That said sometimes they do need a little direction.
Now, I am not talking, “Go clean your room” type work. Nope. I give them something they will think is fun and set them to it.
For instance my son LOVES scrub brush and Method’s “Go Naked” multipurpose spray and let him go at it. No it isn’t perfect but my tub is mildew free and he had fun AND I didn’t have to scrub.
He also loves to wipe things off–I give him a wet wash cloth or a wet wipe and he will wash all my walls, counter tops, and the fronts of all the cupboard, plus all the door knobs. With 5 people home constantly those things get gross.
With the girls it is trickier. Letting them dust is a big one. We got a free sample of Swiffer Dusters in the mail and they LOVE using those though they are just as happy with an old sock really (and the sock seems to work as well. (On the other hand the Febreeze allergy reducer stuff REALLY WORKS!!!! They LOVE spraying it on the curtains and furniture.) They also like washing the car and cleaning windows and mirrors, when I let them. (They go through too much spray and I always feel like I should be helping them–which I hate.)
Essie will also hang out the laundry to dry–she loves that, and Rachel will work on cleaning projects with specific goals willingly (like the basement so we can have an art class there or getting ready for the yard sale this weekend, or cleaning so we can have company.)
Not that they are actually bored that often–they spend most of their free time playing Wii, reading books, or helping the neighbors with their gardens. Which is why my house is seldom actually clean–they are too busy MAKING messes to need me to let them clean them up.
*For more Wfmw: Bored Edition visit Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer
Oh, Mama.
I cannot WAIT until my girls get old enough to do hard labor.
Yes, sometimes when I say, “You’re bored? Well, go scrub the bathroom,” they say “Sure, Mom!” and run off happily. Ooooohhhh-I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts. Lol.
Great idea for boredom, I use this, too. I like the scrubbing ideas and cleaning stuff. The “go clean your room” talk never works, but a specific, funnish task like spray & wipe is awesome!
Ha! I love it! My kids used to do the same thing. They loved to clean until they got a little older, so make the most of it while you can! But really, even now, if I ask, they do it, just not with the same excitement as when they were 5. 🙂 At one point I even bought professional looking window cleaning supplies for one child (squeegee and everything) and for awhile I had the cleanest windows in the neighborhood.
Oooo! You are a mom after my own heart!
All my kids are past the “Housework is Fun” stage, but they all still pitch in willingly. Everyone has their weekly/daily chores, but “I’m bored!” is simply not a phrase we condone! The last time one of my kids said they were bored, I got a kitchen floor that fairly sparkled!!! (Hard to do with bare concrete floors, too!) In this house, that’s the “b” word!