Don't Give Them Anything To Do

And they may do something like this...

Mary used a piece of burnt wood to create this masterpiece on our patio. It doesn't wash off...

Lydia has some amazing adventures in our back yard.  I only hope they can get written down before she gets too grown up.

I know this contradicts my last post, but not completely. Giving children things to do is important, but it's also important for children to learn and create on their own.

I'm a big proponent of letting children get bored. Boredom can breed creativity and ingenuity. Boredom can give children time to think. We all need time to think, relax and rest. I love to see what happens when my children get bored.  I have heard parents say that when their children are quiet, they must be up to something no good. Sometimes that might be true, but not usually for us.

These are just a few things that happened because our kids were bored. I'm sure there is many more, but they probably were kept secret from me.

• building an igloo (never got finished, we do live in GA)
• making a chalk wall in the bedroom
• writing the names of God in different languages in Sharpie on the wall
• mattress jumping
• elaborate desserts created
• giant forts
• puzzle factories 
• movies or other dramatic productions (think Little Women)

Playing in the rain is a good idea for girls too!

Abigail found that an umbrella is great for a ride on a sunny day.

This Where's Waldo? game lasted for months. Many "Waldos" were drawn and hidden all over our house. It was fun  finding them in the strangest places.

Walks in the creek across the road and hikes in random places grow girls in the best of ways.