This is a story about making beds with a three year old. Now, during my more disciplined times (I’ve been doing well lately, thank you), I give him a corner to put in place, and then I do the rest. Then he smooths out the wrinkles and puts his pillows on the bed neatly.
I noticed yesterday that David was quite capable of “making his bed,” that is, pulling his blanket over his bed until it is straight. The problem is, his bed is against the wall, and in the process of getting over to put the blanket straight on the far side of the bed, he messes up the near side. Make sense? So… brilliant idea that I had last night. I’m going to pull his bed away from the wall so that he can make it himself. Guess what? He can now do it myself without my help. (although I still oohed and ahhed, a necessary motivator at this point!)
This is why I’m a big fan of hooks and stools, of child-sized toilets, and all things child-sized. That’s why I like the idea of taking the time to help a child take his bowl to the counter (even if they spill, even if they go only three steps before I take the bowl, even if I could do it much faster at this point by myself). You see, I’d like to tell you that my motivation is greater independence, happier children, and helping them become responsible citizens. But I’m really thinking that the more they can do themselves, the more help they’ll be to me when there are three of them! Sometimes it takes a little creative thinking to figure out how to help them do something independently, but I think it’s worth it.
Really, it’s for them and me both. Really.
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