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?!

Hmm. I just don't think I can keep pens away from her, because it would be immensely inconvenient for me. I like to be able to grab a pen whenever I need one, I don't want to have to go to the secret hiding place (and anyway I'm not organised enough to keep them there, I am indeed a slattern and though I'd love not to be, it ain't going to happen.

I like the idea of toy being taken away, I'd forgotten that sanction. Her sanction is that she's not allowed to watch any TV till Wednesday, but the taking away toy is more sensible as it has more logic to it.

ComeOnVeneer-what is the big deal?
We (my partner and I ) have accepted it. I don't see it as vandalism. It is our home and we believe it is appropriate. My dc do all the things you mentioned above as well as occasionally drawing on the walls, floorboards, doors, sofas, and anywhere else they fancy.
It would be vandalism if they destroyed your prperty, for example, but this is art in their own home

mrsruffallo - What happens when she goes to other people's house to play? Are you going to pre-warn her friends' parents about her Bansky-esque tendencies or just assume it's OK? Or are you just going to hope that she never has a life outside your 4 extrememly liberal and indulgent walls?

You've accepted it? That makes it sound like you have had to come to terms with what they are doing. It is by no means a big deal, I just have trouble understanding it. A sofa is for sitting on, a wall creates a room/holds a house up, a floor is for walking on. None of those things were created for children to draw on.

TBH you are probably a much more laid back person than me and will certainly never have a stomach ulcer, but I really can't see it as anything more than destructive behaviour.

You have inspired me MrsR I used to draw on the walls - not scribble but proper drawings and then painted them when i was about 17 i did my whole bedroom winnie the pooh for my dd1 and it looked amazing I think i'd like to do something like that again for both my dd's now.

Swedes- look at my past posts I have answered that particular question twice already
ComeOn-what I meant by accept was when my older child started to do it we discussed it and found neither of us minded-and we began to discuss the drawings rather than where they were they drawn. They are fascinating and often funny.
Lovemygirls- My older child draws beautiful expressive things and the younger one prefers to paint. I think a wall in a house is quite a unique space to fill and is really a blank canvas. Good luck with decorating with your girls.

mrsruffalo. How amazingingly liberal and artistic you must all be.

I am afraid drawing on walls, floors, furniture are definitely off limits in my home. I pay for nice things and I wish for them to stay nice. DD is capable of beng creative without drawing on our furniture, etc.

But each to their own I guess.

But nothing of what you have said with regards to your childrens creative talents couldn't be done on a more suitable canvas (which can be kept indefinately even if you move house) I simply can't see why it has to be done on the walls.

I don't know why everyone is getting so arsey with mrsr - she has said several times her children only do it in their own home, where everyone thinks it is fine. What on earth is the problem?

ComeOnVeneer- Just interested in why you think it is destructive- I an genuinely interested, not annoyed or anything.
And I am certainly not trying to prove my liberal/artistic credentials- just expressing my point of view I suppose

Thanks Franny and Zooey

Believe me I am neither arsey nor bothered in any way with what mrsr lets her children do and I'm not looking for an arguement.

hmm, interesting thread.

my children used to draw on walls a lot. We lived in a very old house, which was being renovated, so the paint was about 20 years old, and it didnt matter. they also used to take charcoal bits from the fire and draw cave paintings in the cupboard under the stairs at one point.

I guess it is a question of what's most important to you. My children have now grown out of the wall drawing stage (apart from little dd2, who has the odd lapse), and we now have a house with clean white walls.

None of them have ever drawn in someone else's house BUT I did once have to whip a felt pen out of ds's hand at the station, as he wanted to copy the poeple who had already written on the walls Fortunately, he got the message pretty fast, probably picked up on my genuine horror.

As I said earlier I m anal (and I really am). DH believs I have OCD tendencies. I believe it is destructive because that is not the intended purpose of those items, perhaps the right term is defacing?

Intersetingly enough when checking that was the "correct" term look what I found

lol comoveneer, to an artist, all things are a blank canvas and a wall is well...just a challenge.

Monet painted on the wardrobe doors in a hotel where he was staying once, the paintings were in Monet in the 90s if I remember rightly. Good thing he wasn't staying at your house

MOnet I could handle, ds going mental with a pink marker on the arm of my brand new beige sofa sent me into apoplexy

mrsr I know of a family with children aged 13,11,9 and 3 who allow their children to draw all over the house. Have to say the type of graffiti that is happening now is not artistic just plain rude. They have said that when the youngest is 5/6 then they will redecorate and put a stop to it.I dont really have any problems with what they choose to allow their children to do in their own home (never at anyone elses house afaik). I could never allow it myself as i feel dp and I have worked hard to get the nice things we have and feel it would be very disrespectful of ds or dss if they were to what i would see as trashing our things.
When they move out and pay for their own things then they have the right to do with them what they want

Monet was compared with child's scribblings in his day though, Im pretty sure.

Must admit, our sofa is old and will not be replaced until my children get older. Suppose it will be red wine and coffee stains then though.

FrannyandZ The OP's child drew on a suede headboard and a sofa and the OP is clearly upset about it. How is MrsR's liberal attitude relevant, let alone helpful?

Nightynight, what a breath of fresh air!
That is how I feel, they won't always do it and it is fine for now. My dc would never dream of drawing in other peoples houses and have never attempted it not even my youngest who is only 2.
The 'cave paintings' must have been amazing- my dd just visited the British Museum and we have her version of heiroglyphics on the wall atm!!!

I have used this to create a space for my lo's to be creative in the playroom, but it is easily distinguished from a normal wall.

But swedes I just posted an opinion and people have directed insults/ comments / questions at me which I have done my best to answer

Great for chalk pictures ComeOn