How do you let kids be kids?

[tryingmybest11]

I’m a lone parent. I find it so stressful doing everything alone. When my kids make a mess, I get so frustrated. I want them to be children, I want them to make a mess, I want them to play noisily, I want them to laugh, I want them to get dirty. However, when it actually comes to it, I turn into an ogre.

Please send me your tips to become a more relaxed mum? How do you spend time with your children? Feeling desperate especially with this lockdown. Thank you.

Planning and preparation, both physical and mental.
So for example, designate a place for messy play. As in painting pictures, or baking, or play doh, or crafts. For us it was kitchen table as that is easiest to clean up after. We also had paint/activity smocks for the children to wear which were really old work shirts of DHs that I chopped off half the sleeves and then put them on child backwards over their clothes, so buttons up their back. So no need to worry about ruined clothes or changing them afterwards.
Then make decision that at least once a week, you will allow/suggest messy play indoors. Then break out the paints, flour, play doh, millions of beads whatever abs join in yourself. That makes it actually fun.
For outdoors, I’d just dress them in stuff that it didn’t matter if they got mud or grass stains on it. Yes they were not best dressed children in the park, but who cares? Save the nice outfits for going out to a restaurant or museum. This is essential to having a relaxed attitude.

We only have carpet in one room . That helps.

She helps,or completely tidies up her mess.

Water play/potions/mixing in the garden or bathroom .

Cheap shower curtain on the floor contains most messes for a planned messy play activity. Shake it out in the garden,quick wipe (if i can be bothered) and folded back up.

Slime is a good messy activity that isn't actually horribly messy as long as the bowl is good enough.

Helping me cook as long as it involves flour. Mess is slightly irrelevant as the kitchen needs a clean after anyways.

What are your children into? We could come up with some ideas that might make things easier for you.

Bless you. I'm generally fairly chilled out about kid mess, thankfully, but not sure how I got to that stage. It does bother me when playsets get scattered throughout the house though. There's always one bit I can't find 😬. Tuff spots are great for keeping messy play in a defined area if you've got the space for one.

Take them outside and safety provided, let them go wild. Make dens, potions etc. Let them get dirty.

Lower your standards too. You house is never gonna be immaculate with kids.

I'd avoid stuff that really makes a mess I. E glitter.

I’m trying to figure this out myself. We did blw with DS but he’s 12 mths old & I see red when he throws food everywhere. It has totally ruined carpets, paint on walls & doors - we’re redecorating the house soon which will help & getting rid of carpet everywhere except for 1 room. But honestly I need to learn how to be more chilled out and that’s the problem

I don’t really mind, but find myself becoming twitchy because I know how DH reacts to mess. My solution is that science kits/ paint/ whatever get done on the garden table.
No problem with mud etc... strip at the door, into a hot bath

I'd avoid stuff that really makes a mess I. E glitter.

You mean craft herpes?