When Kids Make the Rules

Posted by Jeff on November 24, 2009

So what happens when your kids make the rules? Most likely it leads to chaos, including frustration, screams, time-outs and more.  Well, both of my kids now think they are rule-makers and can just bark out orders and Mommy and I will heed their beckoned calls! Ok, maybe it’s not that bad…but there is a small amount of truth in that statement, especially at dinner time! We sometimes feel like we are waiting on tables and our kids are grumpy old patrons demanding our service!

Our kids do attempt to create some rules for Mommy and me. Sometimes these rules are pretty damn funny and other times make me pretty damn mad – like when they told me I couldn’t have dessert because I’m on a “wife-enforced-diet”. UGH! Kids!! (thanks guys)

So why do kids start making up their own rules? I’m not really sure…but maybe it’s a sense of growing up and responsibility. Or maybe it’s because they are constantly bombarded with adults telling them what they CAN and CANNOT do every minute they are awake! Either way, I think if the rules are somewhat harmless to let the kids “run with it” to help boost their confidence, the creativity and to give them a little sense of empowerment. Of course, I’m not going to give-in to crazy rules like “we can stay up really late” or “we’re allowed to jump off the kitchen table”.

I was looking for some articles online about this subject, but surprisingly…I didn’t really find much. Or at least not what I was really looking to read and use in this post.

 

So what do you think? Should your kids set a few rules to give them some “freedom” or should parents be 100% rule-makers and enforcers? Please leave comments so we can all start to think and discuss. Thanks!

Teach Your Kids About Nature – Start By Counting the Birds

Posted by Jeff on February 10, 2009

Are you looking for something fun to do with your kids this weekend for an hour or so? Didn’t get your wife anything for Valentine’s Day? No worries…here is a great solution to both! (Image from RunnerJenny on Flickr)

Why not participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count? Yeah, that’s right, sit by your window or journey onto your deck (if it’s fairly warm) and count some birds. While counting have your kids draw some pictures of birds and slap some hearts on it. Give that to Mommy as a Valentine’s Day card.

I receive an email from Green Daily and the post was in today’s feed.

If you enjoy birdwatching or even just need a good reason to get outside, consider the Great Backyard Bird Count which takes place February 13-16. In the midst of the Valentine plans for the weekend, take a few minutes to look for some birds.

Read the full article “The Great Backyard Bird Count Coming This Weekend“

By counting the birds, you’ll be teaching your children about nature and possibly how birds migrate — and if your kids are 4 and 2 yo like mine, you can teach them to count and learn their colors. Have them count the birds on the ground, the birds in trees, and even the birds flying. Try to determine which bird is bigger than the others. By doing all of this and interacting with them you may spark an interest in nature in your child which I always think is a good thing! I’ve done similar nature activities with my kids last fall…when I took them on a “nature hike” in our backyard. We looked for bunnies and I even showed them “where the bunnies live”. It was just a brush pile in the woods behind our house. But they sure thought the bunnies lived there — in that EXACT spot.

So if the weather is nice in your neck of the woods…why not get outside, breathe the fresh air and teach your kids a little bit about the birds and the bees…well there won’t be any bees in my area yet…whew! I can hold off on that conversation for a long time!