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?!

LittleBella, at nearly 6 she shouldn't be doing it, but I don't think taking pens away is the answer, in as much that, yes, it will stop her doing it purely because you have taken her tools away, not because she is sorry and learnt the lesson that it is not acceptable. I do agree there are certain things that do have to be put out of reach but pens....I don't think so.

If she does it again, then get really tough, an hour without telly obviously isn't hitting the spot. I would take away a favourite toy, postpone an outing or going to a friends, as well as make her help you clean the stains.

If pens are washable then water/huggies wipes work. If felt tips not sure of the base so not sure about nail polish remover. Depends on the base of the ink. solvents work on some pen types.

I would tell her that she can only have baby washable pens if she insists on behaving like a baby. Insist she helps to clean it up.

Hi LittleBella,

Sorry I couldn't make the instructions clearer.

LOL I got the idea dgeorgia. Just crap at following instructions!

BTW where did the hour without TV come from? It's a week without TV! That's quite a lot! (Every day she complains that she's bored with nothing to do. She's got that until Thursday.)