kids and scrapbook rooms

[laura&fam]

I'm looking for ideas on how to keep my kids from messing up my scrapbook room.

I am lucky enough to have my own room for scrapbooking, but the kids (8 and 4) love craft projects and have some supplies that they can use if they ask.

Lately I feel like I never get to scrapbook or do my own projects because I am helping with their projects or cleaning up after them. I want them to be able to have fun too, but it's been excessive lately. I know there has to be a balance, but I'm having trouble finding it.

Any ideas?

 

[123SA]

My DD, who is also 8, has her own supplies -- cutter, mat, tape, scissors, stickers, xyron x, some photo mats and DCWV paper stack. This has helped a lot. She has a shelf to heep her things on. This may sound mean, but I refuse to help her. I have told her that I want to see her pages, not mine. After a few times of this, she has figured out that either she does it herself or not at all. Also, I am militant about her putting her scrapbook stuff away. Her room is a mess, but the scrapbook stuff can't be. This will not work with your 4 yr old of course. Maybe before you get out your stuff to play, have a kit ready for the 4 yr old -- one piece of paper, some mats, photos and stickers -- help the child with one page and then do your project. When my child was 4, one page was enough.

 

[czycropper]

Please let me know when you find out the secret . My scraproom is also the room that my DH decides to put anything he can't find a place for in the rest of the house so it's always a mess RIght now I have the girls cheer bags, the Halloween costumes, box from Oriental Trading, a box of clothes which are to be donated and some other odds & ends which all put into the room by my DH - so that's what I'm doing today, cleaning it!

As far as the kids - I have a 10 & 8 year old-the 10 year old has had scrapping stuff since she was 5 - I bought both of them the plastic 12x12 storage bins and they keep all their papers & stickers in there, their scrapbooks are in the bookshelf with all of mine. All their craft supplies & kits are in large plastic bins that are in the closet and then some are also in a drawer bin.

When I'm in there scrapbooking, one of them will usually come in and they have their own table to scrapbook (it's a table I set up for all my ribbon and stamping stuff) so I keep them away from my table.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Please let me know when you find out the secret . My scraproom is also the room that my DH decides to put anything he can't find a place for in the rest of the house so it's always a mess RIght now I have the girls cheer bags, the Halloween costumes, box from Oriental Trading, a box of clothes which are to be donated and some other odds & ends which all put into the room by my DH - so that's what I'm doing today, cleaning it!

I don't have kids, so I cant help you with that, but I just had to say that this is me too! Whenever DH "cleans," I can no longer walk into my scrap room!

 

[laura&fam]

I can't count the number of times I have had to tell my husband "It's a scrap room not a crap room".

I just pick it all up and put it on his dresser. He doesn't do it nearly so much now.

 

[ilovemickeymost]

I'm looking for ideas on how to keep my kids from messing up my scrapbook room.

I am lucky enough to have my own room for scrapbooking, but the kids (8 and 4) love craft projects and have some supplies that they can use if they ask.

Lately I feel like I never get to scrapbook or do my own projects because I am helping with their projects or cleaning up after them. I want them to be able to have fun too, but it's been excessive lately. I know there has to be a balance, but I'm having trouble finding it.

Any ideas?

The 1st thing that leapt out at me was that you are cleaning up after them. The more you do for them, the more the won't do for themselves. I'd give each of them a ticket as a reward for good behavior, etc. They have to have say 5 tickets to do crafts in your room. You decide on "kids hours" when they are allowed in there. And if they leave w/out cleaning up, they're not allowed in the room for the whole next week & they still have to come back into the room & clean up their mess. It will only take a few times of one sibling being able to craft w/ mom & not being allowed for it to stop.

 

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

I just have to say i have the same problem. So i started taking what i was working on out to the living room or the kitchen table, where their stuff is. Mine are almost 3 and 1. The baby is the hardest. but if i leave the room she just sits and plays with her toys and not mine. I have a drawer set up for my 8 and 3 yo's with stickers, papers, etc and they can only grab from there. and what they dont put back goes in the trash. They like to craft in the kitchen.

My DH is the same way too. what is it with men? He complains if i stick something in the garage that belongs in there. But when it comes to him cleaning everything ends up in here.

Good luck!! if you find the secret please do share!

 

[Caitsmama]

My dd is 7, and for the last couple years, i have had her a table in my craft room, with her own shelves, and papers, stickers, etc.. that way when i am up there scrappin' or whatever, she can be up there "creating" too -- but i insist she cleans it up when she is done.