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- Six years of sneaking out of bedrooms after getting little children back to sleep, I would make a great cat burglar. 9 hours ago
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I am completely in the same situation! My current take on it is letting her be creative with less, and as an artist, I know that oftentimes limitations and parameters are a blessing. We’ve been totally inspired by the book, “Simplicity Parenting.” Check it out for good reasons to have less.
I try to have both – designated spots for messy play and other areas where we try not to play, or if we do, we try to keep it quiet. Kids like boundaries. And every 6 to 12 months, I have a clear out – recycle, reuse, toss some stuff, donate.
It is hard to find a balance between the two, I let the kids take the lead on this one.
I’ve got a little plaque at the door that reads: Our house is clean enough to be healthy and messy enough to be happy.
I try to do the one thing in one thing out, but usually it ends up being a whole heap out at once and new things in in bits and bobs. Then I get cranky and do a big cleansing clean out, usually of other people’s stuff. I have a couple of boxes in a wardrobe that I pull out every couple of years and go through and throw away/recycle/donate stuff that I am no longer emotionally attached to. If I can’t bear to throw it away it goes back in the box. But still I’m down to two boxes which I don’t think is too bad.
I haven’t read the second article, NYT server has a problem, but the first resonates with me. I also struggle with the mess so we have a dedicated playroom with the intention that mess stays out of the rest of the house. Mixed results with this. I also have the same issue with my nearly 4 year old as one parent in the article. She plays really well but hardly ever by herself. She always needs a playmate. No wonder she’s missing kindy so badly. On that point, we specifically chose a kindergarten that had minimal structure and lots of messy craft and play and she loves it.