Staving off Boredom

Halfway through the morning Rowan uttered "this is the boringest day ever." Hearing my little one say that there's nothing to do makes me pause to think. The easiest solution might be to put on a movie, but I really don't want the kids glued to the one-eyed babysitter (as my brother so fondly refers to TV). The ease with which one can solve the boredom dilemma with a flick of the switch is part of the reason we don't have cable. Instead of calling in the DVD player to entertain, I brought out a box, crayons and scissors and we got to work making a house for the Playmobile people. We piled the table with some other props for play- pine cone "trees," little bits of amethyst crystal "treasure", rocks and blocks to set the scene- and all of a sudden there was lots to do. Sometimes, despite all of the many toys we have collected the kids "have nothing to do!" But a solution can usually be created using things around the house and maybe a little extra mess.

If all else fails, put them to work!

Luckily the work is often as helpful to me as it is fun for them.