I’m a sucker for creative play.
Today the boys are out of school for Columbus Day. We had big Pumpkin Day plans (which I’ll share tomorrow), but we took a while to get going this morning . . . mostly because they were having so much fun.
Non-wrestling, non-Jedi-battle, non-bug-your-brother, non-make-your-mama-crazy fun.
They were playing library.
Meaning, every book stored in my handy-dandy office shelf has been moved to my 7yo’s bed and carefully displayed. Library cards have been created, and check-out-limits imposed. Plans have been made to “keep it there forever” and sleep on the floor from now on.
I’ll wait until tonight to rain on that parade.
When I used to (unsuccessfully) attempt other people’s tried-and-true methods to get my house in order, things like this stressed me out completely. Mostly because I felt that “they” wouldn’t approve.
But I do approve.
In fact, I love it. Enough to be willing to direct the clean-up later tonight.
I’m linking this up over at Finer Things Friday at The Finer Things in Life.
I love it too. I used to allow terrible messes that appalled all my friends. But my kids had great imaginative playtimes.
Fabulous! My son has a McDonalds kiosk he stole from our neighbors curb on clean up week. He drags this all over the house, handing out play money to people and telling them they have to order from him.
I love it when he says 'he's bored' – all I have to do is send him off to put away a couple of his misplaced toys. It takes him about 30 seconds for his imagination to kick in once he gets to his toy bin – I love listening to the stuff he comes up with. Cracks me up and blesses me at the same time.
That sounds like fun! 🙂 It's neat when kids come up with things like that. My kids found something that they thought looked like the stamper used at the library and would spend hours "stamping" library books. Encouraging reading is never a bad thing, even if it makes a little mess.
Love it! My daughter's room is the official play place on Saturday mornings since it's biggest. I try to stay away because the mess kills me. They're usually pretty good about getting it all picked up when I make the announcement.
I totally remember playing library as a kid! My sister liked to display the books up the stairs at my grandparents house. So much fun! Definitely a "mama approved" kind of mess. 🙂
I remember playing library with my sister when we were kids. There are probably still a lot of books with "cards" in them, in my parents home.
I don't mind this kind of "mess", but I wouldn't mind it even more if everything got put back where it came from. That's my only frustration, but something I need to try to teach my kids to do properly.
Hooray–from not letting your kids go to the library, and as I continue to read your posts in order, now I find them “playing library”–this librarian for 30 years says, “hooray for them! and for you!!” 🙂 🙂
My house is the one where my niece can play playdoh, kids can dig in the dirt out back with no comments about how dirty one can get, and more than once has the tie dye stain on the back porch faded and been made new again.
I just wish I was the type to automatically have the mess cleaned up right away.
Making messes is how kids (and wouldn’t hurt an adult or two) LEARN!