Kids And Jobs

Can I interrupt this blog with a brief soapbox?

Good.

Here are my 2cents on Kids And Jobs. Just something I’ve been thinking about as spring gets closer.

Cent 1. Kids need jobs.

I’ve learned, from my days as a babysitter, daycare worker, grade school student teacher and substitute teacher, and mom, that kids left to play all day will usually get bored at some point which inevitably result in spats, whining, fussing, and general selfishness and unhappiness. Which doesn’t make them very likeable. Or fun to be around. Kids who know they are expected to contribute to the pulling of the wagon are way more likely to appreciate those free times when their contributions are completed. Free time, as with anything else in life, is valued more highly if there is less of it.

If your kids don’t know how to do any jobs – shame on you. Teach them.

If you don’t have time to teach them – shame on you. Get a pet.

Kids take time.

None of this “quality time” business: what a joke. What a lie. It’s got to be quantity. Large quantities. Of YOUR time. Large quantities = quality. You’ve got to work with your kids. Let them work with you. And play with you. And sing with you. And pray with you. And talk with you. And work some more with you. And play some more with you. And talk some more with you. No matter what the age. Kids need massive amounts of time with you just like they need vitamin C and food and water and exercise and a good night’s sleep.

Well, and a rambly tangent besides. Back to jobs.

Don’t forget to appreciate the jobs kids do…praise is as vital to kids as fresh air and sunshine. Give it liberally and give it sincerely.

 

Cent 2. Kids don’t need to be entertained.

One word we have never allowed at this house is boring or any form of the word. I detest that word. Always have. When life is boring, when someone is bored, that means that same someone is boring.

Simple solution:

Teach kids to make themselves interesting. Give them a few ideas, but only a few: read a book, bake cookies, draw a picture, color a picture, do a puzzle, make dandelion chains, cut grass for the neighbor’s pet rabbit, call the siblings or neighbor kids together for a bike race or a trek on the Oregon Trail.

In other words: teach them to make life happen.

Meet resistance?

Give them a job (see cent 1, above).

OR

Kick them outside and let them wander in the Ugly Land Of Boredom until lightening strikes and suddenly, spontaneously, they’re doing something. Something fun. Something creative. Something, anything. Even if it takes an hour or more. Let them wander, and they’ll get there. They’ll eventually stumble on something fun and then they’ll be having so much fun creating and imagining and making and playing that they hate to quit at choretime. I’ve seen it dozens and dozens of times. It always works.

 

That’s it, that’s my 2cents,

End soapbox.

 

 

BONUS ROUND:

***when you take the time to teach little kids to work, all of a sudden  - - like BLINK  - - they grow up and then you have this army of big kids that can accomplish amazing things***

Just sayn’.

 

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work [which includes teaching your kids!] shall be rewarded.

2 Chronicles 15:7