creative clutter - help!!

KarenBoo · 06-19-2016, 03:52 PM

So Monkey is super creative, and she makes things quite often. She makes a lot of her own toys. Most boxes that come into the house get cut and painted and turned into shops, doll beds, and things. I absolutely love this and encourage it!

I've had to institute a rule that she can only have one box project at a time. So when she starts a new project, we recycle the old one.

The problem is that over the years, she has actually created a lot of things! And she plays with them. And she has a terrible time getting rid of them.

And I'm going crazy with all of it!

She has a homeschool room, her own bedroom (that she does not even sleep in), and the bonus room upstairs is full of toys. (Though the upstairs room must remain relatively empty because it doubles as a dance studio. But that room has a large closet, and one large wall is fully lined with cabinets.)

OK, I really don't know what to do! I want to encourage her creativity. It's not like she doesn't play with what she makes. But her stuff would easily take over the house if I let it! And she gets so angry when I make her get rid of stuff. She says "what's the point in making this stuff if I have to get rid of it?"

We frequently have large boxes residing in our living room.

She has made herself a drumset, a doll, a doll house, and as I said, all of the boxes of stuff. That's just what's in the house right now.

When she says "I don't have any place to put it!" I say "get rid of something!" She often chooses to get rid of some thing she saved up her money to buy. I'm fine with that. But all of the tears and meltdowns that accompany all of this is just driving me insane!

Help! What can I do??

2sunshines · 06-19-2016, 04:32 PM

what does she do if you purge it for her? I only ask because I have a few kids who have a HARD time getting rid of things, but openly admit that if I do it, they appreciate it because they never miss the items, but have a hard time actually letting go....

KarenBoo · 06-19-2016, 04:37 PM

This would never fly with this child. She is very attached to the things that she is attached to. She knows all of the toys that she has. She plays with most of them. She's the creative type that pulls out several toys from several places and sets up elaborate things. And, she doesn't mind putting things away - as long as they have a place.

She feels that she has "thinned down" as much as she can. And, she has no problem getting rid of things that she feels "done with." She herself would rather discard things than live with clutter, generally speaking.

Maedchen · 06-19-2016, 04:43 PM

What age are the oldest projects from? could you convince her that she could improve on her designs now that she is much older?

Could she part with more items in a recycle bin with the promise of new art supplies to change her color scheme?

2sunshines · 06-19-2016, 04:49 PM

Is she motivated by money? Is there anything big that she wants to save up for?

My kids recently purged a HUGE chunk of their toys and belongings because we told them they could have a garage sale and use the proceeds towards the purchase of something they want (they collectively have been wanting a trampoline). I was amazed at the things they put in the garage sale pile.

Just brainstorming outloud...

KarenBoo · 06-19-2016, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maedchen

What age are the oldest projects from? could you convince her that she could improve on her designs now that she is much older?

Could she part with more items in a recycle bin with the promise of new art supplies to change her color scheme?

Her creations are only a few months old. I do make her get rid of them (or something - a store bought toy) to make space. She is just prolific with her creations, and so there is always drama when she needs to find space, and therefore, get rid of something.

To her, everything in the recycle bin is fair game! And I do love that. She's made some very creative things!

Most recently, she has drawn up, from her own imagination, a car. She has detailed drawings with parts and pieces of how to make it all work together. DH looked at it, and she basically came up with a soap car design - but she's never seen one! This girl - she's got the engineer brain!

DH has agreed to help her build this thing. WHERE IS THAT THING GOING TO GO??????

---------- Post added at 07:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:54 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2sunshines

Is she motivated by money? Is there anything big that she wants to save up for?

My kids recently purged a HUGE chunk of their toys and belongings because we told them they could have a garage sale and use the proceeds towards the purchase of something they want (they collectively have been wanting a trampoline). I was amazed at the things they put in the garage sale pile.

Just brainstorming outloud...

Yes, I get this. The thing is - she does play with her toys. I tend to agree with her - she is "thinned out." Meaning - she doesn't have much that she actually doesn't play with. And most of that is decorative stuff or sentimental stuff. (or a combo.)

It's just that she keeps on making more....

2sunshines · 06-20-2016, 02:11 AM

Ok, so you're good with what she has... But she wants to continue to make more, despite not having any place for more? Is that accurate?

A few ideas...

Could you channel future crafts as gifts for others? As in, making something for grandma and grandpa, or a neighbour, or a friend... So that she can still do all her fun creative work, but the end result doesn't stay in the house.

Or have her do future work as upgrades to her current toys? So if she has a specific thing that she has made and plays with, and wants to make something else, could she be encouraged to make an even better like item that would replace the older version? If the replacement expectation is clear up front, and you hype up the excitement of the new and improved version, would she be on board?

Aerynne · 06-20-2016, 06:46 AM

Wow- that would be really, really hard! It would simultaneously thrill me and drive me crazy (probably more crazy than thrill)! How many box projects would you say she has currently, and how big are they?

I guess first of all the "what is the point of making it if I'm just going to get rid of it" could be the starting point for a conversation. "Well, dd, what IS the point of making things? Nothing lasts forever, so why do we make things?" (insert talk about the beauty of making things and how making things changes US for the better)

But even given that I wouldn't expect her to throw things away happily. Still, when commenting on her projects and complimenting her, I'd focus on process more than product. "It looked like you were having so much fun making that!" "How did you come up with the design?" "I loved how hard you were concentrating when you were making that" Those comments might fall flat without "What a lovely ___" also- comments about the product- but I'd be sure to throw in compliments about the process. Additionally, when you make something (even if you're not crafty, I'd apply this anywhere from gardening to cooking to fixing something that is broken)I'd comment on how much you enjoyed the process (if you can honestly say that you did) and otherwise in general focus on process over product in as many things as you can (art you see, books you read- "I wonder how he came up with the metaphor of ___", music you listen to, etc)

You said she doesn't sleep in her bedroom. What is in there? I would say this is a child who needs a finite space but who needs a BIG finite space for her stuff. Can you fill her walls with Ikea Kallax shelves but when they are full, they are full. Although I would be tempted to, I wouldn't differentiate her homemade toys from purchased toys in any way if possible, in how or where they are stored, etc, since she actually plays with them.

Another possibility is the idea of getting her more durable materials to work with, like wood and fabric, and having her make things to sell. If she's got that talent and is ready for that next step then that would be GREAT. If she's not ready for that step yet, then she will be some day. Whenever she does get to that point, you might have a whole lot of projects just from her replacing her cardboard stuff with wood.

You might also buy her some other, more durable materials for making smaller projects. Does she have a dollhouse? She could make all the furniture but then it would be small.

You could also limit her to making one 3-d project per week. That way she would have the whole week to dream it up and think about it.

When she does select something to get rid of, I would take a picture of it and put it in an album for her.

Hermana Linda · 06-20-2016, 07:52 AM

She can start a business and sell stuff. People will buy the cardboard stuff.

Sent from my mobile device via Tapatalk

KarenBoo · 06-20-2016, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hermana Linda

She can start a business and sell stuff. People will buy the cardboard stuff.

Sent from my mobile device via Tapatalk

She's not quite that good!

Hermana Linda · 06-20-2016, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenBoo

She's not quite that good!

She will be soon!

Sent from my mobile device via Tapatalk

KarenBoo · 06-20-2016, 05:23 PM

I just gave her the idea that she could work towards making her stuff higher quality and sell it, and her eyes about popped out of her head!

She loved that idea. Now, I have to find good examples for her.

She usually paints the boxes, cuts parts out of them, and mostly uses her very creative imagination for her play.

06-19-2016, 03:52 PM	#1
KarenBoo Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central FL Posts: 6,022	creative clutter - help!! So Monkey is super creative, and she makes things quite often. She makes a lot of her own toys. Most boxes that come into the house get cut and painted and turned into shops, doll beds, and things. I absolutely love this and encourage it! I've had to institute a rule that she can only have one box project at a time. So when she starts a new project, we recycle the old one. The problem is that over the years, she has actually created a lot of things! And she plays with them. And she has a terrible time getting rid of them. And I'm going crazy with all of it! She has a homeschool room, her own bedroom (that she does not even sleep in), and the bonus room upstairs is full of toys. (Though the upstairs room must remain relatively empty because it doubles as a dance studio. But that room has a large closet, and one large wall is fully lined with cabinets.) OK, I really don't know what to do! I want to encourage her creativity. It's not like she doesn't play with what she makes. But her stuff would easily take over the house if I let it! And she gets so angry when I make her get rid of stuff. She says "what's the point in making this stuff if I have to get rid of it?" We frequently have large boxes residing in our living room. She has made herself a drumset, a doll, a doll house, and as I said, all of the boxes of stuff. That's just what's in the house right now. When she says "I don't have any place to put it!" I say "get rid of something!" She often chooses to get rid of some thing she saved up her money to buy. I'm fine with that. But all of the tears and meltdowns that accompany all of this is just driving me insane! Help! What can I do?? __________________ Married to DH for 29 years! Mama to very sweet DD1 "Kitten" 5/03 and our very sweet DD2 "Monkey" 1/08 crunchy, homeschooling, and focused on healing with diet, homeopathy, and QRI cold laser reflex integration

06-19-2016, 04:32 PM	#2
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27,024	Re: creative clutter - help!! what does she do if you purge it for her? I only ask because I have a few kids who have a HARD time getting rid of things, but openly admit that if I do it, they appreciate it because they never miss the items, but have a hard time actually letting go.... __________________ married 25 years mom to two young adults (23 and 20) and two teens (17 and 15)

06-19-2016, 04:37 PM	#3
KarenBoo Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central FL Posts: 6,022	Re: creative clutter - help!! This would never fly with this child. She is very attached to the things that she is attached to. She knows all of the toys that she has. She plays with most of them. She's the creative type that pulls out several toys from several places and sets up elaborate things. And, she doesn't mind putting things away - as long as they have a place. She feels that she has "thinned down" as much as she can. And, she has no problem getting rid of things that she feels "done with." She herself would rather discard things than live with clutter, generally speaking. __________________ Married to DH for 29 years! Mama to very sweet DD1 "Kitten" 5/03 and our very sweet DD2 "Monkey" 1/08 crunchy, homeschooling, and focused on healing with diet, homeopathy, and QRI cold laser reflex integration

06-19-2016, 04:43 PM	#4
Maedchen Rose Trellis Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2,482	Re: creative clutter - help!! What age are the oldest projects from? could you convince her that she could improve on her designs now that she is much older? Could she part with more items in a recycle bin with the promise of new art supplies to change her color scheme?

06-19-2016, 04:49 PM	#5
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27,024	Re: creative clutter - help!! Is she motivated by money? Is there anything big that she wants to save up for? My kids recently purged a HUGE chunk of their toys and belongings because we told them they could have a garage sale and use the proceeds towards the purchase of something they want (they collectively have been wanting a trampoline). I was amazed at the things they put in the garage sale pile. Just brainstorming outloud... __________________ married 25 years mom to two young adults (23 and 20) and two teens (17 and 15)

06-20-2016, 02:11 AM	#7
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27,024	Re: creative clutter - help!! Ok, so you're good with what she has... But she wants to continue to make more, despite not having any place for more? Is that accurate? A few ideas... Could you channel future crafts as gifts for others? As in, making something for grandma and grandpa, or a neighbour, or a friend... So that she can still do all her fun creative work, but the end result doesn't stay in the house. Or have her do future work as upgrades to her current toys? So if she has a specific thing that she has made and plays with, and wants to make something else, could she be encouraged to make an even better like item that would replace the older version? If the replacement expectation is clear up front, and you hype up the excitement of the new and improved version, would she be on board? __________________ married 25 years mom to two young adults (23 and 20) and two teens (17 and 15)

06-20-2016, 06:46 AM	#8
Aerynne Rose Garden Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 27,359	Re: creative clutter - help!! Wow- that would be really, really hard! It would simultaneously thrill me and drive me crazy (probably more crazy than thrill)! How many box projects would you say she has currently, and how big are they? I guess first of all the "what is the point of making it if I'm just going to get rid of it" could be the starting point for a conversation. "Well, dd, what IS the point of making things? Nothing lasts forever, so why do we make things?" (insert talk about the beauty of making things and how making things changes US for the better) But even given that I wouldn't expect her to throw things away happily. Still, when commenting on her projects and complimenting her, I'd focus on process more than product. "It looked like you were having so much fun making that!" "How did you come up with the design?" "I loved how hard you were concentrating when you were making that" Those comments might fall flat without "What a lovely ___" also- comments about the product- but I'd be sure to throw in compliments about the process. Additionally, when you make something (even if you're not crafty, I'd apply this anywhere from gardening to cooking to fixing something that is broken)I'd comment on how much you enjoyed the process (if you can honestly say that you did) and otherwise in general focus on process over product in as many things as you can (art you see, books you read- "I wonder how he came up with the metaphor of ___", music you listen to, etc) You said she doesn't sleep in her bedroom. What is in there? I would say this is a child who needs a finite space but who needs a BIG finite space for her stuff. Can you fill her walls with Ikea Kallax shelves but when they are full, they are full. Although I would be tempted to, I wouldn't differentiate her homemade toys from purchased toys in any way if possible, in how or where they are stored, etc, since she actually plays with them. Another possibility is the idea of getting her more durable materials to work with, like wood and fabric, and having her make things to sell. If she's got that talent and is ready for that next step then that would be GREAT. If she's not ready for that step yet, then she will be some day. Whenever she does get to that point, you might have a whole lot of projects just from her replacing her cardboard stuff with wood. You might also buy her some other, more durable materials for making smaller projects. Does she have a dollhouse? She could make all the furniture but then it would be small. You could also limit her to making one 3-d project per week. That way she would have the whole week to dream it up and think about it. When she does select something to get rid of, I would take a picture of it and put it in an album for her. __________________ Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 Jan 2, 2024 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day

06-20-2016, 07:52 AM	#9
Hermana Linda Administrator "air-mannah Leen-dah" it means Sister Linda in Spanish Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 51,848	Re: creative clutter - help!! She can start a business and sell stuff. People will buy the cardboard stuff. Sent from my mobile device via Tapatalk __________________ My pages: Why Not Train A Child? and the FB Page as well as @WhyNotTrain on Twitter Read about how my husband was Pulled From The River By God

06-20-2016, 05:23 PM	#12
KarenBoo Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central FL Posts: 6,022	Re: creative clutter - help!! I just gave her the idea that she could work towards making her stuff higher quality and sell it, and her eyes about popped out of her head! She loved that idea. Now, I have to find good examples for her. She usually paints the boxes, cuts parts out of them, and mostly uses her very creative imagination for her play. __________________ Married to DH for 29 years! Mama to very sweet DD1 "Kitten" 5/03 and our very sweet DD2 "Monkey" 1/08 crunchy, homeschooling, and focused on healing with diet, homeopathy, and QRI cold laser reflex integration

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