Keep the kids clean or have fun?

[labdogs42]

I'm sitting here watching an episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 (the one where they visit the Crayola factory) and I can't figure out what Kate's deal is with keeping the kids clean all the time. I love this show and I have no clue what I would do with 8 kids (I only have one kid), but I don't get her deal with not letting the kids get messy. I would much rather let my kid play with markers and have fun than try to manage NOT letting him use markers and dealing with the incessant meltdowns over the subject.

My son gets dirty all the time and I just throw his clothes in the wash with detergent and some BIZ and most of the stains seem to come out all by themselves. Am I oversimplifying the situation? Or am I a crazy parent? I like seeing my kid have fun and if that means getting a little dirty (or a lot dirty), so be it! What do you think?

 

[stsomewhere]

My kids get dirty all the time.
Markers, glue, mud, shaving cream, paint etc.

 

[emh1129]

We are a 'get dirty' kind of family, too. I really should buy stock in stain remover

But I think cleaning up 8 kids is harder than the two I have to clean up, so..

I haven't seen the Crayola episode, but the ice cream incident at Magic Kingdom was funny.. Especially when Jon was like "let 'em roll in it, I don't care!" That's just how my husband is!

 

[jessica52877]

My son gets dirty all the time too. I can somewhat see Kate's point of view, she has 8 and constantly scrubbing stains would get old, but I do think loosening up would be good. I cannot imagine saying no playing with markers.

As a kid my mom kept us very clean and we weren't allowed to do much, touch much, etc at home, maybe that is why I am the way I am now, make a mess and just clean it up. Thank goodness we had a good neighbor who did all the messy stuff with us (including bathing us and washing our clothes when we were little - she was more like a grandma).

I really want my son to be able to be a kid and use paint, glue, markers, dig in the dirt, etc.

 

[yankeechick]

i'm one of those don't get dirty kinda of people! I have a 3yo dd and i think it has rubbed off on her she will not finger paint for anything now when my son was little he got dirty all the time,but it's different when you have a

 

[MATTERHORN]

Another vote for not getting dirty. I am not super crazy about it, and I have my times when I let them, but for the most part, it's more of a hassle all around when they are all messy! For instance, if you are out somewhere (crayon factory) you may not have a change of clothes with you!

Andrea

 

[disneybridetobe]

I'm a "get dirty" kinda mom, too! I'd much rather do a little cleaning up than risk a meltdown any day. I think some moms are just neatfreaks. DH is kind of like that, his mom and grandmother are neat freaks, and he says it rubbed off on him supposedly. He's cuckoo about cleaning up her hands and face while she's eating. Yikes, at least let her finish eating! Needless to say, we don't have any "cake smooshing" pics from her 1st b-day party. <shakes head>

Viva la mess!

 

[labdogs42]

Kim -- I see you are from Chester County, PA. That's where I grew up! Maybe being from PA allows one to be less worried about messes! I have the most fun with my son when we are getting messy. I keep all kinds of supplies in my van for messy clean ups -- extra clothes, wipes, towels, shoes. Everything! Makes my van look a bit messy , but I'm prepared for anything!

 

[disneybridetobe]

Kim -- I see you are from Chester County, PA. That's where I grew up! Maybe being from PA allows one to be less worried about messes! I have the most fun with my son when we are getting messy. I keep all kinds of supplies in my van for messy clean ups -- extra clothes, wipes, towels, shoes. Everything! Makes my van look a bit messy , but I'm prepared for anything!

COOL! HI!

Yep, I have the most fun when we're messy! LOL- our station wagon is FULL of 'in case' items, clothes, wipes, towels, tissues, you name it, it's there! Yeah, it looks a little messy, but I'm prepared for anything! (and if I don't have it, I can MacGuyver it! )

Must be a PA thing

 

[karapp75]

I am a get dirty mom for the most part. I do try and "steer" my kids toward vanilla ice cream over chocolate when we are out and in good clothes. As a mom of twins + 1 I do see Kate's issue. She matches her kids clothes, (as do I- mine are 3 and I will stop when they are in grade school) and if 1 outfit gets totally ruined and stained she is down 5 other matching outfits. I do think she sometimes goes too far but when I think it is multiplied by 8 it sure does make a lot more sense!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I am a firm believer that one of the great joys of childhood is being able to get messy and not worrying about it. Kids get messy all the time...think of how many little kids you see at WDW with Mickey ice cream bars melting all over them, but they are enjoying themselves so much and they are so happy!!!

My DH gave me a book last year about having a son (we have 2 sons). One page says, "Boy...definition: a noise with dirt on it"!!! I thought this was hilarious and oh so true! DS3 will be perfectly clean, and then all of a sudden out of nowhere he is dirty again! But he is happy! Let them get messy (within reason) and have fun!!!

 

[Siouxstone]

I can't imagine cleaning up 8 of them, but with one, I just throw him in the tub. But, my house is like that too. Sure, that crayola on the wall is washable, but I may leave it for a while. I know it drives some people nuts, but I get a super happy feeling walking past the crime scene in the hallway. And the sharpie drawing on the washing machine, well, it makes my heart sing. Some day, he'll be too old for sloppy ice cream kisses at WDW, so I soak it up while I can.

I realize that there is a lot more to tote with 8, but seriously, I've never been, but I think just the idea CRAYOLA FACTORY requires packing at least an extra shirt!

 

[mom2aredhead]

I'm sitting here watching an episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 (the one where they visit the Crayola factory) and I can't figure out what Kate's deal is with keeping the kids clean all the time. I love this show and I have no clue what I would do with 8 kids (I only have one kid), but I don't get her deal with not letting the kids get messy. I would much rather let my kid play with markers and have fun than try to manage NOT letting him use markers and dealing with the incessant meltdowns over the subject.

My son gets dirty all the time and I just throw his clothes in the wash with detergent and some BIZ and most of the stains seem to come out all by themselves. Am I oversimplifying the situation? Or am I a crazy parent? I like seeing my kid have fun and if that means getting a little dirty (or a lot dirty), so be it! What do you think?

No, I don't think you're oversimplifying it at all. Kids need to learn by playing and experimentation when they're little...which means they touch things, play with things, smush play doh, write with markers, play with dirt, paint with their hands...that's life! Just buy washable markers, washable crayons, washable paint, and a bottle of Shout...what's the harm??

Another vote for not getting dirty. I am not super crazy about it, and I have my times when I let them, but for the most part, it's more of a hassle all around when they are all messy! For instance, if you are out somewhere (crayon factory) you may not have a change of clothes with you!

Andrea

See, if it was me, I'd plan ahead and throw the change of clothes in the car before we went somewhere where a mess is inevitable, anticipating the possibility I'd need them. I also keep baby wipes, purell and a few shout wipes in my purse - takes care of most "dirt emergencies" until we can get home.
But honestly, at the crayon factory, I don't see why I would need a new set of clothes unless an entire bottle of paint spills over on them, and when I was there, I don't remember that being possible? They'll play they'll have fun, make some art projects, see how crayons and markers are made, maybe get a little marker on them...and the world will not tip off its axis. I promise!

One page says, "Boy...definition: a noise with dirt on it"!!! I thought this was hilarious and oh so true!

OMG that's so funny...AND TRUE!

I have neighbors that are the other extreme. The poor boy is a few months younger than my son and he's not allowed to play with anything remotely messy. If he falls down and gets the knee of his pants dirty, he's whisked away for a change of clothes and a lecture. They always have to look like their about to get their portraits taken! I think she (the mother) thinks it's a reflection on her - that if her kids are dirty she's not a good mother or something.
I laugh as I wonder what she's going to do when he starts pre-k this year and she can't police him every second. Oh no - play doh under the fingernails - the HORROR!

 

[Tinkermommy]

I love the show, but I saw the Crayola episode and then one where she wouldn't let them eat cupcakes for their birthday at the bakery and then I saw the Disney clip about the ice cream and I was really annoyed with her.

Part of being a parent is not letting your neuroses (sp?) effect your children! Let them be kids and get messy. One of my favorite pictures is of my daughter eating ribs (she even had sauce between her toes!).

Skin washes very well and it is rare that I can't get a stain out. I agree with the OP about using Biz -- that is my go to product. I always have a "Biz bucket" (Biz and water) and anything that gets stained gets dropped in until laundry time. I also like Zout. And baby wipes are great on stains!

My other tip is I put my kids in white! People call me crazy, but I just bleach it and everything comes out! It's harder to do that with colors.

If Kate did not want her kids to get dirty, why take them to Crayola or a bakery to decorate cakes. Or even buy them ice cream which melts in 10 seconds in the hot Florida sun! Don't put them in a situation and then require them not to participate!

This has been bugging me and now I am glad I got that off my chest. Thanks for the thread OP!

 

[disneybridetobe]

I love the show, but I saw the Crayola episode and then one where she wouldn't let them eat cupcakes for their birthday at the bakery and then I saw the Disney clip about the ice cream and I was really annoyed with her.

Part of being a parent is not letting your neuroses (sp?) effect your children! Let them be kids and get messy. One of my favorite pictures is of my daughter eating ribs (she even had sauce between her toes!).

Skin washes very well and it is rare that I can't get a stain out. I agree with the OP about using Biz -- that is my go to product. I always have a "Biz bucket" (Biz and water) and anything that gets stained gets dropped in until laundry time. I also like Zout. And baby wipes are great on stains!

My other tip is I put my kids in white! People call me crazy, but I just bleach it and everything comes out! It's harder to do that with colors.

If Kate did not want her kids to get dirty, why take them to Crayola or a bakery to decorate cakes. Or even buy them ice cream which melts in 10 seconds in the hot Florida sun! Don't put them in a situation and then require them not to participate!

This has been bugging me and now I am glad I got that off my chest. Thanks for the thread OP!

Hear, hear!! I know what you mean 'bout the other moms feeling like it's a reflection on them, and keeping their kids portrait-ready at all times, and it bugs me to no end! I am SO relieved to see other moms that feel this way too! A stain on a shirt is NOT the end of the world! Big spills OK, sure, I'll change her. Big deal.

And on not letting your neuroses affecting your kids, EXACTLY!! Let them develop their own

 

[mom~of~2]

I'm someone that has always liked to keep things clean... HOWEVER, living in a house with a preschooler, a toddler, 2 dogs, and 1 cat... Well, let's just say my "neat freak" tendencies have relaxed quite a bit!! Now, if I had 8 kids??? I don't know what I'd do but getting stains out of my kids' clothes would be a very low priority!

When it comes to my kids, I'm in the "let them get dirty" camp. Of course, if they're about to get their pictures taken - I'm very careful!! Otherwise, my approach involves lots of "play" clothes, "washable" art supplies and stain remover. (Mommy also has "play" clothes since it's inevitable that I will also get covered in paint when we're doing art projects!) Good fun.

 

[Ephany]

DH swears we could put DD in a white, padded, sterile room and she'd still get dirty. As long as it's not in her 'good' clothes or right before we need to head out the door, I'm ok with it. I figure that's why they invented washable markers, crayons and paints!

I'll admit, I've picked her up from pre-K and there's paint splotches on her clothes or she has dirty knees and I'll still swing by the grocery store to grab something. Life's too short to worry about what everyone else thinks!

 

[jbyrne]

It's vacation and I don't have to clean up. Have fun - it's vacation!

 

[dogluva]

We are a 'get dirty' kind of family, too. I really should buy stock in stain remover

But I think cleaning up 8 kids is harder than the two I have to clean up, so..

I haven't seen the Crayola episode, but the ice cream incident at Magic Kingdom was funny.. Especially when Jon was like "let 'em roll in it, I don't care!" That's just how my husband is!

I don't have eight but I do have six and my kids got very messy. Small price you pay for memories. And I do have a washing machine. Clothes are materials, they can be replaced. Memories can not. I just don't get it.

I will never remember a mother at the playground. Woudl not let her daugther play on anything. She was crying to play in the sandbox, mother would not hear it. He sneakers might get dirty. So sad.

 

[dogluva]

Another vote for not getting dirty. I am not super crazy about it, and I have my times when I let them, but for the most part, it's more of a hassle all around when they are all messy! For instance, if you are out somewhere (crayon factory) you may not have a change of clothes with you!

Andrea

So what? you have a little marker on them! They can't wear the clothes for a few hours with a few marker stains on them. I never knew this. My kids are usually pretty messy when we do day trips. I clean them up when we get home. No biggie.