re: Re: Cleaning up and other kid issues | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: mosss (mosss![]() |
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Date: Tue, 13 Jun 95 09:34 CDT |
In response to David Mandel's queries about the expert mess-makers in the under-10 crowd (I have two of these aces myself): At Nyland, we use the kids room (in the common house) for childcare during the week so we have a schedule for parents cleaning up the room daily to be ready for the next day. The room is locked with the key above the door ledge so it is handy for adults and only the more creative kids. Adults frequently unlock it and leave for a spell so often it is not clear which children are most responsible for the mess. Fortunately, an ethos to err on the side of neaten-up-anyway has developed. Parents try to round up the most likely "suspects" and help them straighten out the room. If the infamous "nobody" is around, parents tend to do it themselves. I have several times had the wonderful experience when it is my night to clean to arrive to a room that someone has already neatened up. At Nyland, at least on this issue, the attitude seems to be exert some energy for your fellow parent and the favor will be returned at some later date. Since we live in a very safe environment, locking up has not been a problem. If an adult is not directly supervising children in the kids room, there is an implicit understanding that whoever let them in is responsible. When my wife and I cook for the community together, it is next to impossible to not leave our kids in the kids room by themselves for short periods of time. Like most parents, we do frequent checks. Then we have the added fun of cleaning the kitchen and the kids room! As to the toy gun debate: we have a plethora of water squirting devices in the hands of kids ages 6-11. Although many of us wince at the idea of our kids playing with guns, moderately supervised play with some clear ground rules has made it nearly palatable, e.g., no ganging up on one kid, avoid the face, stop when a kid says stop, etc. The debate will rage on... Former lurker, Steven Moss
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Re: Cleaning up and other kid issues David L. Mandel, June 12 1995
- re: Re: Cleaning up and other kid issues mosss, June 13 1995
- Re: Cleaning up and other kid issues Rob Sandelin, June 13 1995
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