Let the Kids Play!

February 21, 2008 by thinkhappy

As a mom it is really easy to say no. Raising kids, sometimes we find ourselves saying no and then thinking “I probably could’ve said yes to that one, but it’s too late now…I don’t wanna seem weak!” In parenting, we get so accustomed to telling the kids “no” it becomes a knee jerk reaction. Although I can think of a few parents who have the opposite problem and can’t spell discipline, I think the majority of us are quite good with the NO word. So good in fact that perhaps we should stop to think before we let it fly out of our mouths.

Kids thrive on playing. They use their imagination more in one day than we probably do in a week. So what if they make a mess when we let them pretend cook in the kitchen! Oh well, they’ll get wet if we let them play in the rain. Heaven forbid they get paint up to their elbows when it is only supposed to be “finger” paint!

These things are what memories are made of. Think back and I bet you can remember making messes and having a blast. I would never suggest you let your kid take life risking chances, but finger paint is pretty safe. Remember just because you relax on the “no” doesn’t mean you have to forget the: “You have to clean it up” or the ever popular “Because I told you so!”.

Come talk about your adventures in parenting with other moms in the Women’s Nest Women’s Forum.

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