Boredom lists
[email protected]
I wanted to share a success that was a direct result of this board!
I'm not sure who wrote the list I got from this board, only that they "have
five children, ages ranging from 7-17", but I printed out the list of 40
"things we do when we get bored", and as it suggested posting them to the
refridgerator, and that would be the BEST way to keep me from losing it (!), that's what
I did. I printed it out on June 12th, and hadn't gotten around to talking
with Wyl (5) about it, yet, but he kept moving the magnet that I had on the
bottom to keep it from catching on people when they walked by, and I kept asking
him to please leave that one magnet there (he's our resident magnet user! :~) ).
Last week, he came to me while I was going through my e-mail, and said,
"Mama, I'm bored. Can you get me a sheet and some snacks so I can make a tent in
the living room and eat snacks in it?" It took me a few seconds to realise that
he had read the list by himself (does that count as "scattering"? lol), and
thought he NEEDED to be bored to ask for a tent-sheet! I was thrilled to go
upstairs for a sheet for him, didn't have any in my room (time to go to the
laundromat), and decided to get one of his (he has more sheet sets than I do,
anyhow!), but couldn't even get near the closet because of toys and stuff. I
explained that I could reach the sheets if he cleaned his stuff out of the closet
doorway, but by the time he was done cleaning that out, he had lost interest in
the tent/snacks idea... :~( I was pretty disapointed in that, but, glad that
something I had gotten here had sparked his interest and thrilled that he got it
"on his own" and came to me about it! Thanks to those who posted those
"boredom lists"!!
Síocháin ar domhan,
Sang
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I'm not sure who wrote the list I got from this board, only that they "have
five children, ages ranging from 7-17", but I printed out the list of 40
"things we do when we get bored", and as it suggested posting them to the
refridgerator, and that would be the BEST way to keep me from losing it (!), that's what
I did. I printed it out on June 12th, and hadn't gotten around to talking
with Wyl (5) about it, yet, but he kept moving the magnet that I had on the
bottom to keep it from catching on people when they walked by, and I kept asking
him to please leave that one magnet there (he's our resident magnet user! :~) ).
Last week, he came to me while I was going through my e-mail, and said,
"Mama, I'm bored. Can you get me a sheet and some snacks so I can make a tent in
the living room and eat snacks in it?" It took me a few seconds to realise that
he had read the list by himself (does that count as "scattering"? lol), and
thought he NEEDED to be bored to ask for a tent-sheet! I was thrilled to go
upstairs for a sheet for him, didn't have any in my room (time to go to the
laundromat), and decided to get one of his (he has more sheet sets than I do,
anyhow!), but couldn't even get near the closet because of toys and stuff. I
explained that I could reach the sheets if he cleaned his stuff out of the closet
doorway, but by the time he was done cleaning that out, he had lost interest in
the tent/snacks idea... :~( I was pretty disapointed in that, but, glad that
something I had gotten here had sparked his interest and thrilled that he got it
"on his own" and came to me about it! Thanks to those who posted those
"boredom lists"!!
Síocháin ar domhan,
Sang
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/27/04 11:28:07 PM, Sanguinegirl83@... writes:
<< "Mama, I'm bored. Can you get me a sheet and some snacks so I can make a
tent in
the living room and eat snacks in it?" It took me a few seconds to realise
that
he had read the list by himself >>
How cool!
My kids' easiest "tents" involved sheets and rubber bands (the big ones from
the post office, but any fairly fat ones would do, or hair ties) and the
heavy kind-of-ladder-back chairs so they could fasten the sheets to the top posts
of those and use them for parts of walls too. Holly has done that as recently
as last fall when she had an overnight thing.
We have folding futons, and they can be stood on edge (bent, zig-zaggy, to
stay up) and used as walls too.
-=-couldn't even get near the closet because of toys and stuff. I
explained that I could reach the sheets if he cleaned his stuff out of the
closet
doorway-=-
You could've grabbed one off a bed! Or a tablecloth, or length of sewing
cloth, or...
"Strike while the iron is hot" is an important part of facilitating learning.
Lots of our best memories and learning experiences have come about because a
parent or older sibling reacted in moments to an odd request, and something
great happened. Waiting half an hour or a day isn't the same.
Sandra
<< "Mama, I'm bored. Can you get me a sheet and some snacks so I can make a
tent in
the living room and eat snacks in it?" It took me a few seconds to realise
that
he had read the list by himself >>
How cool!
My kids' easiest "tents" involved sheets and rubber bands (the big ones from
the post office, but any fairly fat ones would do, or hair ties) and the
heavy kind-of-ladder-back chairs so they could fasten the sheets to the top posts
of those and use them for parts of walls too. Holly has done that as recently
as last fall when she had an overnight thing.
We have folding futons, and they can be stood on edge (bent, zig-zaggy, to
stay up) and used as walls too.
-=-couldn't even get near the closet because of toys and stuff. I
explained that I could reach the sheets if he cleaned his stuff out of the
closet
doorway-=-
You could've grabbed one off a bed! Or a tablecloth, or length of sewing
cloth, or...
"Strike while the iron is hot" is an important part of facilitating learning.
Lots of our best memories and learning experiences have come about because a
parent or older sibling reacted in moments to an odd request, and something
great happened. Waiting half an hour or a day isn't the same.
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 6/28/2004 11:25:34 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:
<You could've grabbed one off a bed! Or a tablecloth, or length of sewing
cloth, or...
No tablecloths, here-maybe one 2' x 2', but that wouldn't make much of a
tent... and all my "sewing" material is all scraps-not even 2' x 2'-but that does
help me think in other directions-get me thinking "outside the box" as it
were.
<"Strike while the iron is hot" is an important part of facilitating
learning.
Well, that helped ME learn that lesson! :~D But maybe it helped him learn to
keep paths clean as well? I'm not sure-and probably won't be for a while, but
I will keep my mind open to other options than I thought I had. Thanks!
Peace,
Sang
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
SandraDodd@... writes:
> My kids' easiest "tents" involved sheets and rubber bands (the big onesGood idea! Never thought of that-thanks!
> from
> the post office, but any fairly fat ones would do, or hair ties) and the
> heavy kind-of-ladder-back chairs so they could fasten the sheets to the top
> posts
> of those and use them for parts of walls too.
<You could've grabbed one off a bed! Or a tablecloth, or length of sewing
cloth, or...
No tablecloths, here-maybe one 2' x 2', but that wouldn't make much of a
tent... and all my "sewing" material is all scraps-not even 2' x 2'-but that does
help me think in other directions-get me thinking "outside the box" as it
were.
<"Strike while the iron is hot" is an important part of facilitating
learning.
Well, that helped ME learn that lesson! :~D But maybe it helped him learn to
keep paths clean as well? I'm not sure-and probably won't be for a while, but
I will keep my mind open to other options than I thought I had. Thanks!
Peace,
Sang
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tracey Inman
I have been mostly out of pocket the last several weeks and missed the posting on boredom. Could someone send that list again? I have a 8 year old who's favorite phrase is....."I Am Bored!"
Tracey I.
Message: 18
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 00:43:51 EDT
From: Sanguinegirl83@...
Subject: Boredom lists
I wanted to share a success that was a direct result of this board!
I'm not sure who wrote the list I got from this board, only that they "have
five children, ages ranging from 7-17", but I printed out the list of 40
"things we do when we get bored", and as it suggested posting them to the
refridgerator, and that would be the BEST way to keep me from losing it (!), that's what
I did. I printed it out on June 12th, and hadn't gotten around to talking
with Wyl (5) about it, yet, but he kept moving the magnet that I had on the
bottom to keep it from catching on people when they walked by, and I kept asking
him to please leave that one magnet there (he's our resident magnet user! :~) ).
Last week, he came to me while I was going through my e-mail, and said,
"Mama, I'm bored. Can you get me a sheet and some snacks so I can make a tent in
the living room and eat snacks in it?" It took me a few seconds to realise that
he had read the list by himself (does that count as "scattering"? lol), and
thought he NEEDED to be bored to ask for a tent-sheet! I was thrilled to go
upstairs for a sheet for him, didn't have any in my room (time to go to the
laundromat), and decided to get one of his (he has more sheet sets than I do,
anyhow!), but couldn't even get near the closet because of toys and stuff. I
explained that I could reach the sheets if he cleaned his stuff out of the closet
doorway, but by the time he was done cleaning that out, he had lost interest in
the tent/snacks idea... :~( I was pretty disapointed in that, but, glad that
something I had gotten here had sparked his interest and thrilled that he got it
"on his own" and came to me about it! Thanks to those who posted those
"boredom lists"!!
Síocháin ar domhan,
Sang
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
________________________________________________________________________
Tracey Inman
Legacy for Life
843.340.1624
http://www.TraceyInman.com
Tracey I.
Message: 18
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 00:43:51 EDT
From: Sanguinegirl83@...
Subject: Boredom lists
I wanted to share a success that was a direct result of this board!
I'm not sure who wrote the list I got from this board, only that they "have
five children, ages ranging from 7-17", but I printed out the list of 40
"things we do when we get bored", and as it suggested posting them to the
refridgerator, and that would be the BEST way to keep me from losing it (!), that's what
I did. I printed it out on June 12th, and hadn't gotten around to talking
with Wyl (5) about it, yet, but he kept moving the magnet that I had on the
bottom to keep it from catching on people when they walked by, and I kept asking
him to please leave that one magnet there (he's our resident magnet user! :~) ).
Last week, he came to me while I was going through my e-mail, and said,
"Mama, I'm bored. Can you get me a sheet and some snacks so I can make a tent in
the living room and eat snacks in it?" It took me a few seconds to realise that
he had read the list by himself (does that count as "scattering"? lol), and
thought he NEEDED to be bored to ask for a tent-sheet! I was thrilled to go
upstairs for a sheet for him, didn't have any in my room (time to go to the
laundromat), and decided to get one of his (he has more sheet sets than I do,
anyhow!), but couldn't even get near the closet because of toys and stuff. I
explained that I could reach the sheets if he cleaned his stuff out of the closet
doorway, but by the time he was done cleaning that out, he had lost interest in
the tent/snacks idea... :~( I was pretty disapointed in that, but, glad that
something I had gotten here had sparked his interest and thrilled that he got it
"on his own" and came to me about it! Thanks to those who posted those
"boredom lists"!!
Síocháin ar domhan,
Sang
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
________________________________________________________________________
Tracey Inman
Legacy for Life
843.340.1624
http://www.TraceyInman.com