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5 Parenting Donts When Kids Get Messy

Between Parents & Kids

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SweepTheMess #CollectiveBias

How do you feel when your kids get messy?

It’s a question that I’ve been thinking a lot about lately.  I love seeing my kids get messy, but other times, I want to steer clear of the mess!  Why?  Because messes generally mean that I’m the one who’s going to clean up.  But, there’s a kind of beauty in the mess and I’m trying to see it that way everyday.  That’s why Happily Ever Mom is thrilled to be joining up with O-Cedar and Collective Bias to talk about the the biggest mistakes I’ve made with my kids when they’re messy and how to set everyone up for success…

Biggest mistakes parents can make when kids get messy #SweepTheMess #ad

1. Don’t clean up ALL the messes for them

If kids get really messy, let them help clean up.  I once had kids paint an entire playhouse in mud and their favorite part was “cleaning” the house with paint brushes and water.  Kids learn by cleaning up their messes, too, even if they don’t always love doing it (see #4 for tips).

2. Don’t get upset

I think this one is so important, but it can be really challenging, too.

Imagine sending your kids out to the backyard and they get covered in dirt.  They come inside and you clean them up, only to find that they run right back outside and get dirty again.  Well, that’s frustrating.  But, yelling at kids for being messy isn’t constructive for anyone (see the DOs at the bottom of the post).

Dealing with messy kids - the Dos and Donts #SweepTheMess #ad

3. Don’t avoid messy activities and play

Kids truly learn when they experiment and get messy!

4. Don’t expect them to stay clean

Kids are curious and they want to explore everything that is around them.  Don’t expect them to avoid getting messy just because you want them to.  In fact, most kids don’t even realize that splashing water will “get them all wet,” that playing in the mud will get their feet/bodies muddy and dirty, or that dumping an entire bottle of glitter will stay in their hair for weeks (yes, my daughter did that…).  They’re just exploring and having fun…or, trying to turn into a fairy like my daughter was trying to do with her glitter experiment – ha!

So, expect that your kids are going to get messy every day and figure out a system for how to clean up the fun!  Set up a bucket with some water and sponges.  Kids can only come inside when they scrub their feet and hands first!

Helping kids clean up their own messes - not easy, but it can be done! #SweepTheMess #ad

5. Don’t dress them in their best clothes…everyday

We all know how expensive it can be to buy really nice clothes for our kids.  Set them up for success by having a set of play clothes or “get dirty” clothes so that you aren’t disappointed when kids get their nice clothes dirty.  When they do have to wear nice clothes, remind them that these are the clothes we need to try and keep clean for a short time, then when you get home, let them change into their play clothes.

We also have separate clothes and shoes for school so that my kids don’t get disappointed that they can’t wear their “nicer” clothes to school.  Remember #4?  School is the last place that I expect my kids to stay clean!

Letting kids get messy and dealing with the mess! #SweepTheMess #ad

Here are a few DO’s When Kids Get Messy…

DO try and see the smiles on your kids faces as they get messy – I guarantee they’re there.

DO notice that there is tons of learning happening when your kids are making messes.

DO encourage them to play, to get dirty, and to explore – even if it’s hard for you.

DO have a clean up system – let kids sweep, wipe down with sponges, or wash their feet and hands before they come inside.

DO find joy in the beautiful mess because, in the mess, we get to see who our kids truly are – Are they daring and climbing trees? Creative and covered in glitter? Sensory seekers who can’t stop digging in the dirt?

Tips for finding beauty in the mess #collectivebias #ad

However your child loves to get messy, remember that messes wash away, but memories are for a lifetime.

How do you deal with the mess at home?

Thank you again to our sponsor and Collective Bias for inspiring this post!  All ideas, thoughts, and opinions are my own. #CollectiveBias #Sweepthemess

CLICK HERE FOR MORE RECENT POSTS

By Katie Joiner March 16, 2015

Comments

  1. Tristen says

    March 17, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    Love it! My little one-year-old is already loving getting nice and messy during play time. I can only imagine how it will intensify once it is warm enough for her to play outside!

    Reply
  2. Christine says

    March 17, 2015 at 4:33 pm

    Thanks so much for the great idea with the clean up bucket! I am a gardner and this will be the first year she will be able to “help” me in the garden.

    Reply
  3. Andrea Kruse says

    March 17, 2015 at 5:48 pm

    Very sweet post! I love your list of “Do’s” at the bottom. It was a great thing to highlight because it is fun and kids do learn so much exploring and creating. #client

    Reply
  4. Leese says

    March 17, 2015 at 7:50 pm

    I love this post, Katie! My girls certainly can make messes and this was a good reminder for me that they (usually) don’t do it to intentionally make me mad and that I can make the process of cleaning up fun, too. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Shannon A says

    March 17, 2015 at 10:08 pm

    My boys are loving running through the pring puddles here now. We are all about getting messy 🙂

    Reply
  6. Anna Meadows says

    March 18, 2015 at 2:17 am

    Can’t tell you how much I love this post! (and the pics are just gorgeous too!) I agree with you 100%! It’s not always easy to feel comfortable with dirt/mess living in a small 2 bed unit with a little outdoor space – but it’s always worth it for the joy and learning:-)

    Reply
  7. Tracy Elke says

    March 21, 2015 at 1:11 pm

    Love this! I’m a toddler teacher and last summer we had a whole week of mud fun. I filled the bottom of a plastic pool with dirt, add water and let the kids go crazy! I’m looking forward to trying it again this year 🙂

    Reply
    • Katie Joiner says

      March 21, 2015 at 2:49 pm

      What a great idea, Tracy! I’ll be adding that activity to our summer bucket list 🙂

      Reply
  8. Alicia says

    March 24, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    These are great tips! It is hard seeing messes but their smiles as they make the messes makes it all worth it in the end 🙂 #client

    Reply
  9. shay washington says

    March 29, 2015 at 6:03 pm

    I would like to win the broom to be able to start to give my child more independence. Thank you for this opp, Katie.

    Reply
    • Katie Joiner says

      March 30, 2015 at 10:21 pm

      Yay! Good luck, Shay!!

      Reply
      • shay washington says

        April 23, 2015 at 9:31 pm

        I actually, won. Thanks for hosting this giveaway again!

        Reply
        • Katie Joiner says

          April 23, 2015 at 9:56 pm

          Shay, that’s wonderful news!! Congrats! 🙂

          Reply

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