What Is Wrong with My Children?!?!

I learned something recently that makes so much sense, but somehow seems to completely slip our minds as parents...I know it did mine! Kids naturally want to be part of something. We are social creatures and we all crave involvement. I read a book that reminded me that kids shouldn't have to be entertained or even entertain themselves. As a SAHM, you've got a great advantage in this area. Involve them like crazy!! If you have clothes to fold, give them the wash rags & socks, and let them wad them up and stack them. Praise them for the great job they did. If you need to wash dishes or load the dishwasher, give them one side of the sink & let them scrub around on some plastic dishes (or give them some dry cups and scrubbies to pretend to wash on the floor, if having them balance on a step stool seems daunting). At this young age, they will likely be of NO help in any area around the house, and will more likely add to your workload. But they will be better kids because they were involved in the greater good of their homelife. They will feel like a bigger part of your life in a special way, and you will enjoy them more. It is frustrating sometimes, but you will thank yourself in a few years when they are folding clothes, washing dishes, etc. all on their own. They will learn to be a contribution. Just remember...it all needs to be in a fun and loving atmosphere, or it just becomes more work for both of you, and it all just becomes annoying chores for the kids. But even with the extra work, you will enjoy them more & get more done...I promise.

I started this at my home about a year ago (and, yes, I have to remind myself constantly because it's easy to get back into the habit of sticking them in front of the tv or other "entertainment") and it has been a God-send. The kids (ages 2 & 4) work well together, they are actually learning to be of real help in some areas, and they enjoy the time with me so much that they don't even realize it's work. We sweep together, we wash together, they help me sort clothes. Again, most of it is done incorrectly, and I have to redo some of it when they aren't looking, but it brings so much joy into the house that it the negatives are far outweighed by the positives. And when there are times they just can't help with what I'm doing, I give them a damp cloth & ask them to wipe something...they LOVE to wipe things...the baseboards, the doors, the floor, anything washable!

Oh...and one other thing to remember...it shouldn't all be work. After one or two jobs, sit down and do a kid activity with them. Balance it with fun time, because they are still kids. Just remember that they enjoy the work just as much as long as it's with you. Some people worry that they it's wrong to "make kids work," that you're not "letting them enjoy their childhood." Trust me...they will be better people because of it, and will THANK YOU!!! They don't know it's work at this age. Anything is fun with M.. You aren't standing over them with a whip, slaving them away...you're working as a team to enjoy each other and make a better home for all of you.

Sorry this turned out so wordy. It's obviously something I feel passionate about, because I've had such positive results. Good luck!!

C.

This is perfectly normal for your little ones. They love you and have what I like to call "mommy-itis". They always want to be around you. They need activities to keep their little minds and hands busy just like they do in preschool. See you have them on a schedule and so the days that thay are home from preschool, they do not know what to do with themselves because they are so stimulated at school. Take it from me a preschool teacher and stay at home mom myself for many years give them something to keep them busy. Make playdoh and give them some cookie cutters. It also helps if you have some tupperware bins and put like toys together in them so they have a constructive activity to do. Some examples would be blocks,little potato head, play dishes and play food, also dress up clothes. Make up a picture scavenger hunt on the computer. They need pictures for everything because they can not read yet. Tell them to find the objects and put them into a tupperware bin. This should help. I have a friend who has four little girls and suggested this to her. It worked. Hope this helps you out too.
Sincerely,
C. Rosa, Katy TX

My 3 yrs old is the same way, I am a stay at home mom also and I tell her several times a day to go play with her toys and stop getting under my feet, I have tried everything thast I can think of and she still wanted to be in the same room that I am, alot of days I dont get much done cuz she is aleways beung that way. I just keep telling her that she doent need to follow me all of the time, like just now she was here at the puter with me and I told her that she needed to go and watch her cartoons up in her room cuz we need to have some time apart and she needs to leasrn to be by herself. well she went up stairs and nopw is back again, so I just told her that she needs to learn to play in her room. she went back up to her room but we will see how long that lasts so u see I am going through something similar , just remember the word ENDURANCE, and REPEAT I hate it too but u have to keep telling them that they dont need to be eith u all of the time. It might hurt there feelings but they need to learn tough love.

And I thought that just my litlle boy is like that...;) But obviously that is the age... We used to call our son a litlle monkey because he can hang on me all day long and also fallows me even to the bathroom. He just seems to don't have enough of me even that I'm with him all the time. And when his dad comes home he's very happy but just for a sec, and after that runs again to mommy... When we're all together at home Dany can play by himself beautiful but when I'm alone at home with him- then is a real monkey... My way for this is to always try to keep him busy while I'm in the midle of some hause-work. When I wash the dishes- I give him some plastic plates & spoons to play on the ground or some empty bottles with the lid on. When he gets bored and start to fuss- I'm telling him to wait just a moment when I'll be done and then we will play together. Sometimes it works but sometimes... well kids need the attention;) Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and simply tired of carying him all the time and miss terribly the moments just for my self, but then I'm just thinking- after few years when he will be a big boy- I'll probably miss too much this close company...
Well, Sorry- I didn't give you much advise but I just wanted to say that you are not alone and your kids just loves you soo much that can't live without you (for now) so maybe we all should just try to enjoy this time...? :)))
Best of luck to you-
Agata

I can't really say this will work, I only have one child and he's on me all day long. I don't know how it will work for more than one child. I sit down with him and play cars or trains or whatever. I give him about 15 minutes of play time with me then I tell him I have to go do whatever it is that I'm doing and I say I'll be back...you keep playing. Usually he says okay and he continues to play by himself for like 1/2 an hour or sometimes longer. When he comes looking for me, I start over with something new, I sit with him and do it for 10 - 15 minutes then he's on hiw own again for a bit. Good luck and I hope that works for you too. I imagine with three kids, it might not because they'll probably end up fighting over something in a matter of minutes.