Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! once again DD (nearly 6 FGS) has drawn on the sofa and on my bed headboard. What shall I do?

[LittleBella]

I really, really want this to stop. She is nearly bloody six. When she was 3, it was my fault because I shouldn't have left pens around. Now she is almost 6 and knows it is a rule that she doesn't draw on the furniture, I don't think it is my fault any more. Well maybe it is, but other people's kids of this age don't, so how can I stop her doing it? Don't tell me to keep pens out of her way, I can't have that level of organisation and control freakery. What shall I say to her? Should I have a sanction? And how do I get biro out of leather and suede?!

Take her pens away and get her to help you clean. also tell her that the only time she can have pens is when you have time to sit down and watch her.

Twiggy, he sounds far more physically capable than my two - does he do any organised sport? That might be a good way of getting him running off some of his energy.

I think show offy behaviour is quite common when there are older children around. They don't like feeling like they might be left out.

oops typo - drew on my coat that was hanging on the back of the chair she was sat on. Not so long ago she tried crayons on the laminate floor as well. She probably would draw in the cat if he was sat too close, he's stupid enough to let her! I know part of it is is curiosity but its so annoying!

TwiggyPiggy is NOT ME

it's someone else who is using a very similar name

Fox - no he does not do any organised sports. He did join the local football team but after a couple of really cold Sundays on the pitch he decided he did not like it.

He did an after school club before xmas which was dance and he thoroughly enjoyed it, but the school are not doing it this term.

He loves to be out and about riding his bike.

Twiglett - has somebody said you are me?

a few times they have thought you were me yes .. and I've had a couple of emails asking

I did ask if you'd consider changing your name on an earlier thread but it's totally up to you and I have no rights to do so it just avoids confusion

It's creative. My floorboards, forniture and walls are covered with my dc's drawings. I think it looks beautiful and I acan redecorate whem the y are older (they are nearly 5 and 2)

Message withdrawn

i would be shouting and sending to bed

Criminal damage? I think it is criminal to inhibit their creativity

its creative at pre-school not 6 years old

as a mother one is supposed to socialise a child

i the child knows its wrong to draw on the furniture at school - which i presume she does - then she knows its wrong to do it at home and quite frnakly is doing it becuase she ants to and your not doing an awful lot to disuade her.

walls i can cope with with preschoolers - i never was anal about that - but at 6 years old the kid knows

OMG MrsRuffalo .. am totally shocked at that

so how do you teach the difference between your furniture and walls and other people's / public places

I find that incredibly weird to actually revel in your children's anti-social behaviour .. totally weird

It is not anti social at all!!!
They only draw on the walls at home, they wouldn't dream of doing it in other places.
Why is that anti social?

How can you bear it mrsruffalo. Surely it is confusing your children as to what is acceptable behaviour. DS drew on the wall (when he was 2) and he quickly learnt it wasn't acceptable. Children need to be taught to respect belonging. They can be perfectly creative on paper.

Well, they draw on paper too. They are not confused in the slightest but are very happy and well behaved.

boisee.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/Head%20hippie.jpg

because I would hazard a guess that in most people's eyes drawing on walls and furniture is inappropriate behaviour that children should be discouraged from doing .. it just is anti-social

and in terms of child-raising .. for me it's not like they suddenly get to a certain age and you can suddenly say right you were allowed to do this at 5 but not at 6

no IMHO I believe firmly there are many things in life that you have to gradually teach and reinforce in your children from the earliest ages: manners; social etiquette; social mores so that they fit in with their society's expectations

anyway i'm off to have a chat with a mate

I'm sorry mrsruffalo but I do not consider drawing on furniture and walls as well behaved. That is not what they are for. It is destructive behaviour.

Twiglett - I have not seen the earlier thread - sorry.

The lovely Littlelapin came up with my name - I did have a name with "mummy" in it and there was a thread about this saying it was a bit twee to have mummy in your mn name hence my change.

I am happy with this name. How someone can confuse lett with piggy I do not know.

but that isn't a hippy approach custy .. at least not in my eyes .. it's just rather odd

ignore odd .. replace with unusual (wishes for edit button)

it's the Twig / Twiggy part ... and also I keep Twig when name changing to things like EddieTwigard etc

How can art and self-expression be destructive?
They wouldn't draw on your walls if they were visiting, they don't draw on our friends and relatives walls so I think they have a very mature social attitude.
I think my house looks beautiful, full of colour and life, much better than boring plain magnolia.
I love the hug a tree picture, looks like my dad!!!

good for you MrsR (will never agree though) but good for you