Forcing kids to make a scrapbook

[NewDCLGuy]

So before our last vacation, I get the bright idea that the boys (9, 13) would enjoy making a scrapbook. They would print out some of the photos they like to take, put them in an album, write down a few notes below each photo, etc. We talk it over... everything thinks it's a neat plan.

So we get back from vacation and the boys now show no interest in the scrapbook. They get a few gentle reminders, put a little work in, but keep wandering off to watch tv or play video games. After a few weeks of this, finishing the scrapbook becomes a chore... worse than cleaning their rooms.

Thought A:

The whole point of the scrapbook was it would be fun *for the boys*. If they aren't finding it fun, let it go.

Thought B:

Sometimes kids need a kick in the butt. Even if they aren't having "fun" putting in the work, they agreed to do it and should finish what they start. Besides, someday they will be glad they put in the work and have the scrapbook to look back on.

This isn't a big deal either way.... just curious where the DIS posters would come down on this debate.

 

[PatsGirl]

Let it go. FWIW, there is no way my son would have done a scrapbook or any other artsy crafty stuff while my daughter has a closet full of scrapbooking items and loves to do them.

 

[Rora]

In this situation, I'm in Thought A. If they're not finding it fun or interesting, I'd let it go. No sense in forcing something like this, IMO.

 

[vettechick99]

Girls, yes. Boys, no. I would let it go also.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would just do it myself if I wanted a scrapbook of the vacation and from time to time I would ask their opinion.

I suppose I would treat it as a group project with me being in charge.

 

[minniebeth]

Thought A...pick your battles. A scrapbook isn't worth making them feel resentful for. But, if the scrapbook is important to you, complete it yourself and one day they WILL look back on the memories and appreciate you for it!

 

[golfgal]

Even for girls if they don't want to do it, who cares. Nice idea but not worth a hassle to get it done. If you want a scrapbook from your trip, put one together--heck, there are a lot of digital scrapbooks you can make if you don't want to do a paper version.

 

[MsLeFever]

Is it the captioning that is making them drag their feet? What if they get to type it on the computer and choose their own font? (my kids love to do that.) Or they could dictate their captions and you could type and print?

 

[minniebeth]

Golfgal and MsLeFever make a good point...my DS would never go for scrapbooking or writing but loves to work on the computer...they might prefer to make a digital scrapbook online with one ofthe photo companies, the books come out beautifully~

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I think making them doing will created the opposite of what you want- they'd look back and think of "mean mom" making them do it, vs the fun of the trip.

I'd finish them up and give them to them.

FWIW, something I do for our trips- I "make" them write a journal entry for each day. I print out a really basic form (I might have even found it on the DIS, can't remember, lol)- something I liked about today, something I didnt like, something funny, something I couldn't have done at home. I mixed up the questions so there were different ones for each day. They don't have to write more than a sentence (even a phrase works sometimes), so doesn't take long.

I put them in a report-type folder, but for future trips, you could use such notes as part of their scrapbook later as well. (Include photos of the things they've mentioned.)

 

[bballmom56]

Definitely Thought A whether they were boys or girls. I am not the arts and crafty type and would find it a chore. I can appreciate and admire those that do it, but I don't enjoy doing it.

 

[Jeniferdwn]

I wouldn't force them to do it or they'd do a crappy job. Maybe you could do it and ask if they'd like to sit with you and tell you about the pics and you could write what they say or maybe even they'd like to help you, but don't make them. OR....maybe they would agree to a certain amount of time each week in exchange for you playing a game or something with them.

 

[Jennasis]

You thought BOYS would enjoy scrapbooking?? Really?

Let it go.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I have a few scrapbooks from Disney trips when my kids were younger (1 boy & 1 girl) and they are absolute treasures to me, not them but me. If you are asking them to do this for them you are probably barking up the wrong tree but if you are asking them to do it for you, say as a lovely Mother's Day gift, it is a totally different thing and perfectly reasonable. The boys won't have much to say but maybe if you just ask them for 1/2 hour and let them do it their way you'll be surprised, my son's are more about the photos than the words and I only have 1 page per day.

What I did was write out a basic timeline like: Sat = MK, Sun = AK etc. scatter photos on the table with a few mementos and let them do their thing. Maybe telling them its for them is where things are going wrong.

 

[scrapquitler]

Thought A:

The whole point of the scrapbook was it would be fun *for the boys*. If they aren't finding it fun, let it go.

This.

 

[Ceila]

You thought BOYS would enjoy scrapbooking?? Really?

As mom to a 12-year-old boy, that was my first thought, too!

Maybe if you had called it something else, they *might* have gotten into it. (I highly doubt it - my son would never, ever make a scrapbook!) But kids by that age usually think of scrapbooking as a girl thing.

I would either go digital like another poster said and not worry about captions, or just make the books for them. They'll probably appreciate having them more than they would appreciate making them, KWIM?

 

[myheartlivesatwdw]

You thought BOYS would enjoy scrapbooking?? Really?

Let it go.

I have 3 sons. No way, no how would they scrapbook.

 

[Hannathy]

You thought BOYS would enjoy scrapbooking?? Really?

Let it go.

100% agree especially for the 13 yr old! My first thought was, in his mind he was saying "where's the sharp stick"!

(as in I'd rather have a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!)

 

[Disney Doll]

I vote A. I don't know many elementary school aged boys who would enjoy scrapbooking.

 

[MichelleVW]

So before our last vacation, I get the bright idea that the boys (9, 13) would enjoy making a scrapbook. They would print out some of the photos they like to take, put them in an album, write down a few notes below each photo, etc. We talk it over... everything thinks it's a neat plan.

So we get back from vacation and the boys now show no interest in the scrapbook. They get a few gentle reminders, put a little work in, but keep wandering off to watch tv or play video games. After a few weeks of this, finishing the scrapbook becomes a chore... worse than cleaning their rooms.

Thought A:

The whole point of the scrapbook was it would be fun *for the boys*. If they aren't finding it fun, let it go.

Thought B:

Sometimes kids need a kick in the butt. Even if they aren't having "fun" putting in the work, they agreed to do it and should finish what they start. Besides, someday they will be glad they put in the work and have the scrapbook to look back on.

This isn't a big deal either way.... just curious where the DIS posters would come down on this debate.

I've always hated doing crafts and I'm a girl, no way would I expect boys to want to do that!