After a discussion with some other moms awhile back, I wondered how self sufficient other children were. While I let my kids try a variety of things on their own from making their own cereal to making eggs for the entire family just to name a couple, I found that other moms decided it wasn’t worth the risk of having to clean up a huge mess after the task was complete.
It is just easier for me to do it in the first place then to clean up their mess later seemed to be a common sentiment. This stance is similar to my husband’s warning, when I allowed our 8 year old son to make eggs, “You know you will have a big mess to clean up when he is done.”
Guess what? Now, he can cook eggs for the entire family. His college roommates will love this skill someday.
For my kids, sometimes it is about self survival. Sometimes they get early in the morning and want their cereal before I’m out of bed. So they climb up the cabinets to get their bowl. Open the fridge to get their milk. Oops, a little milk spill. Usually, they will have the mess cleaned up with Mr. Swiffer before I even know what has happened.
How did they learn to use Mr. Swiffer? Well, probably from me allowing them to try it out. Again, I may have had to redo their original work but they are learning.
Okay, so I may have to clean up some milk spills. Yes, it may have been quicker for me to just do it for him than clean up the mess afterwads. But what are we teaching our kids if we don’t allow them to make minor accidents or spills?
Oh so this is your personal blog!! I like it. I am right there with you about letting kids figure things out/foster some serious independence. I come by it b/c it’s a basic principle in Montessori–the children take charge of caring for the classroom environment in a big way. Love it! It’s TOTALLY worth the time it takes to teach them how to do things like sweep up, clean mirrors, put away laundry and cook simple things.
.-= Michelle@GotchaBaby´s last blog ..Blog Indiana: or my first Blog conference =-.