Being creative with our children and
spending time with them is
imperative to raising happier adults.
Our daughter, Alice, is on spring break for this week and we are determined not to spend the entire time watching Netflix and vegging on the couch. As easy at it is to think, "we don't have to wake up early or really follow a schedule... lets be lazy," we have been working hard to keep us all doing something. Anything! Just not TV. Now, that sounds like I'm against watching the tube, I'm not. (In fact, I am completely addicted to Supernatural and Once Upon a Time!) I can't help thinking though, what if we just didn't stare at a screen for a while? What if we started spring cleaning, or played outside in the sun, or painted, or hunted for rocks, or sang to the garden? So, we are. We're doing all of those things and we're having fun, together. Our son, Roran, runs to help with the chickens and the garden. He can't wait to get outside, even when the wind is blowing and the snow flurries start. The sun comes out and he's in the backyard, on the swings, or climbing into the "Pirate Nest" on top of the play set. Heck! He was out there standing against the bizarre Colorado weather today! He didn't need tv to be a happy kid.
We created more watercolor art for the hallway (pictures soon to come) and sang at the top of our lungs to the music of our favorite band, Walk Off The Earth. Alice danced and told us made up stories. Just so know, 6 year old stories are amazing! There's always some wonderful adventure and a heroine, who looks a lot like Alice, ready to save everyone. Today, we heard all about the *Gnome Home, in Ouray, CO and how to trick the gnomes into letting us through the magick entrance to their world. (We have to wear pointy hats and act really short. :) ) I had so much fun with my family today, and we didn't spend all day in front of cartoons.
Yesterday, James and I spent the day really cleaning the kitchen, like REALLY cleaning the kitchen. We got down on our hands and knees and scrubbed the floor! My counters look like they've never seen food! With all that wonderful cleaning, we discovered something: our children crave responsibility! The asked to help put dishes away and wipe down the sink. When that was done, they wanted more fun chores to do! We figured out if we make it a game, with only one task to accomplish at a time, they were happy to help. So, they cleaned their rooms, one color at a time. :) "Go put away all the orange things! Now all the blue things!" It worked really well! During dinner, our kids told us the best part of their day was spending time helping us! The cleaning got done and our children are happy!
Just imagine what life would be like if we never looked at the tv again.
For some inspiration on ways to cut the tv time,
check out this article at Becoming Minimalist!
Our kitchen is beautiful now! Thank you Spring Cleaning!
*The island in our kitchen is topped with re purposed pallet wood and our pot and pan hanger is made from a pallet as well. :) *
For more pallet project ideas, follow our Pintrest board!