O/T-- What to do with my Crazy Crafting Little Man??

[ekatiel]

We always took pictures of our kids creations. So Maybe he could keep the stuff up for 3 or 4 weeks then you could take pictures and he can take it down and start over again. You could print the pictures for him or run them on the computer so he could still have them.

They are very cute.

Very cute! I'm an art teacher so I love to see things like this. My kids did a few things like this when they were younger, too. I can see how it can get hazardous though! Buy some creative things at Micheal's. They have some cheap things there that only cost a dollar and will channel his inner creativity. You can get things for him like foam door hangers too decorate with glitter glue and foamies. (foam stickers!) You can also get things like little boxes and picture frames and get him colors to paint with that will match his room. You can get a How To Train Your Pet Dragon coloring back and he could color a few pictures and then you can get a frame to frame them in his room. All of these a range from 1-4$ and they have coupons in the Sunday paper for 40% any item.
It will help him be creative and he can still help in decorating his room but not be hazardous.

BTW, the magnetic paint totally bombed for us. I had visions of my pre-teen son being able to put up posters to do some non-permanent decorating, but three coats of the special paint ($$) on one wall didn't hold much. The small magnets barely held themselves up, much less anything bigger than a scrap of paper. The hefty magnets I bought slid right down the wall. I think pushpins and little spackling occasionally would have been a better plan.

For my younger DS6, who loves to "paper" his room much like the OP, I have given up some creative control, but we also got him a magnetic bulletin board for Christmas for him to hang up things he likes or creates. If you wanted something bigger you could get a big piece of thin metal and mount it (might look good with the castle/dragon motif).

PHXscuba

I have a child like that, although he's 11 now. He loves to build "contraptions" and make tents and crafts. He has a portfolio that he uses for his paper crafts. He has a variety of throw blankets, pillows, stuffed animals and a beanbag chair in his room to build with (and he sometimes "borrows" them from other rooms).

He will also build intricate cities, contraptions, and other scenarios out of Legos, wooden blocks, a marble run, Little People (when he was younger), and Geotrax. When we buy him toys we buy them geared toward open-ended play. We don't buy Lego models because he wants to make up his own things, same with race tracks and k'nex. Anything he can build with we get things that use his creativity. He likes working with wood as well, but has to follow blueprints for that and Snap Circuits so he has learned to follow a plan, he just prefers his own plans.

So I guess my advice would be to buy your son toys geared toward open-ended play. And give him plenty of blankets, sheets and clothespins to build tents with. Those cushiony tiles that go together like puzzle pieces might be good for him to use on the floor, too, so he could make it an "island" or "water" or whatever he is pretending that day. When he has an idea like that encourage him to tell you about it while you write it down, or make up a story around the idea for you to write down.

Thanks for the advice, guys. Perhaps I overreacted at Marrionette's post, I prickeld more at the WAY she said to paint the walls, than at the fact she said to paint the walls. She's responded with this same tone in more than one of my threads (including stalking my posts on occasion), so today I was just done with it. Thanks again, to everyone else who offered suggestions. --Katie

 

[maggiew]

I don't think its really all that bad. When I opened the thread I expected there to be paper all over hanging from the ceiling, walls, etc.!

I really like the previous poster's idea of those foamy puzzle blocks that he can make islands, sand, waterfalls, etc. with.

With such a big room and so much open space, I can imagine him having those K-nex things that you can make rollercoasters, etc.

http://www.scottware.com.au/theme/store/serpent.htm


OP, just feel glad he isn't trying to draw on the walls ... yet! My DD was an artist too. You might want to get him one of those easel's with paper to sidetrack him from the walls.

P.S. I really like his waterfall at sunrise. That is very creative!

Maggie

 

[angierae]

The only bit I'd be worried about is the paper on the floor, because someone could slip on it. I wouldn't consider any of it a fire hazard unless it is near a source of heat - by a lightbulb or something. Having paper hanging off his fort isn't going to cause a fire.

I would want him to pick up the paper on the floor at the end of the day just because people need to be able to get in and out of the room at night (especially if there was an emergency of some sort) but I wouldn't worry about the rest of it.

I should post a picture of DD16's room, if you want messy. I just make her keep the door closed.

 

[Desert Dwellers]

I am thinking along the lines of corkboard squares hung up in a checkerboard pattern on the wall. Then he has lots of display space that can be changed out easily.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Personally I would do nothing. I love it when my daughter chooses to do creative play rather than watch TV or play video games. If it means I have to deal with papers all over the place (and trust me I do), so be it.

 

[Carlyzmom]

WOW! My son is 7 and it looks EXACTLY like what he does daily! He is so creative and I love it! It does get overwhelming and I'm sure your son is like mine and would FREAK if you threw away his masterpieces!! Occasionally, when it gets TOO much, I take pictures of older stuff and get rid of it. I'm very sentimental, so it feels like throwing away a part of him when I do, but you have to sometimes.

But, what you asked...I would just let him go crazy in his own room. He will grow out of it somewhat, but just let him enjoy it while he can. Yes, there are others out there like him! I LOVE IT!!!!!!

 

[labdogs42]

My kid loves to make things out of paper, too. Right now he's obsessed with building thing out of cardboard boxes and tons of scotch tape! We are keeping the creations in the basement playroom for now. I haven't tried getting rid of any of them yet. I know that will be painful!

 

[Promomx2]

Just enjoy and try not to get flustered. My ds is 16 and still makes things every once in a while or will cover some car or something in duct tape.

 

[duffy]

No big deal to me, either. I'd let him be.

Fire hazard? Not unless he also has matches in there.

 

[Reagan&Co.]

I thought his decorating was awesome! Don't worry about it being a fire hazard! I have WAY more paper clutter than that

He must be a fun little boy to have.

 

[lady_bug_888]

OP:

My DS 7 is EXACTLY the same way as your son. We have had issues with the paper mess he creates ever since I can remember. He goes through packs and packs of paper and notebooks (he uses both sides). We have done the following things to combat organization problems with all the paper:

1) We have a drawer/storage system from IKEA. We have colour coded it and all the white drawers are for paper creations (puppets, drawings, figures etc...).
2) We set up an area in DS's room with a desk that has all his paper, felts, crayons etc... organized for him.
3) We go through his 'art' and other papers once a month (or more) and throw away anything that isn't essential. Also, we tell him he has to have one empty drawer and if any of the drawers are overfilling we make him throw away some things. We also take a picture of anything that is thrown out AND we mail some of the 'toss aways' that are really great to relatives whom we know will enjoy them.
4) Above his desk we created an 'Art wall'. We hang some of his more special paintings/drawings etc... so he can enjoy them.
5) We frame some of his artwork and put it around our house.


We have been working on this for quite some time but our DS seems to be getting it now. He knows his room isn't clean until all the little bits of paper are picked up off the floor (he loves to cut things!). He also decorates his room and we will let him leave it up for a few days up to about a week and then he has to recycle things. He can keep the decorations that are spectacular but it's time to move on.

Anyways, good luck to you. I hope some of what we do can help you!

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Well i suppose before stating my opinion I should say I mean this in no disrespectful or offensive way, at all....

I think the white walls are boring too... im not dishing on your taste (your other rooms from the scrapbook are beautiful) I just hate white walls, its a personal thing for me.

I think he is just trying to personalize his space and express his creativity, and I see nothing wrong with this!!!!

I would do one of two things:
-Allow him to be creative and decorate his room, as long as he doesnt damage the walls or leave stuff all around the carpets
OR
-Take him to the store with you and let him pick out a few fun and colorfull things he can use to "redecorate" his room.

 

[averill94]

What a gret job he is doing! Just let him do his "thing". He obviously enjoys it so much!

I think this phase will pass at some point. Only speaking from experience as it takes me back a few years. My son did the same thing....he enjoyed tacking stuff up all over the house.

I would just make sure you have a good supply of paper ( i bet he could be creative with anything laying around, it still kills my son when I want to throw a paper towel tube away)and maybe just encourage tidying his own scraps up. ( I probably didnt even do that).

Enjoy every moment they grow up so fast!

 

[hsmamato2]

1st- try not to get so mad right away.... you asked for suggestions!
2nd....you have a creative kid,enjoy it! Both of mine were like this,still are! Try not to think of his creations as 'junk to clean up' try to see them as he sees them,his art,his wonderful world he's created.
I used to keep a big bin in a convenient place for the kids full of 'junk'-recyclable items,tape,scissors,old plastic forks,bits of cloth,a desk or table to work on,and I wouldn't worry too much about paint,as the tape he's sticking up everywhere will ruin that anyway.....they used to play non stop with their 'stuff' and the tape creations, things made of old forks,are so priceless.
Much of it,I took a pic. of the child with the item,so I'd have a reference date,and eventually,as time goes by,usually some things stay important to child to keep,most go back to the recycle circle.....just have discussions with your boy to see what's what.
Sometimes I'd carefully clean up wjen he wasn;t there....but very cautiously,as some stuff was important to him....
we homeschooled,so I've always had a 'craft corner' a table,drawers or bins to organize tons of craft items,(most just leftover stuff) playdoh,stickers,glue,tape,etcetc. I love the chalkboard paint idea,and Family Fun magazine was the kids fave read when they were small, simply for all the fun craft ideas!
Oh,and we had a rule in our house,one at a time. He could pull out all the playdoh stuff he wanted,but he had to put the playdoh away before he switched to tape and paper with crayons....etc. KWIM? have fun with him! So with that one rule in place,we sure did!

 

[hsmamato2]

oh,meant to add...keep takingphotos of the creations,when it comes time to purge and clean, you can show him that you have the photos,which may help him decide to discard some of the stuff and move on.....
again, I vote leave the walls alone,and let him decorate! my kids always did this,and I love their stuff.....

 

[Soarin_04]

Gotta admit, I didn't read all the responses because I really don't care who's bashing who, not bashing, perceived as bashing, etc., so if I'm repeating what someone else said, I'm sorry.

My older son went through that stage, and my younger one is still kind of in it. The running joke for a while was that if it kept up, I was going to get the boys on A&E's "Hoarders," sit back and collect the residuals!

I wish we'd known about the magnetic paint! That would've been way cool for them to display their art. What we did was...

1. We designated a wall in the kitchen for stuff they really wanted to show off.
2. We just keep the door to their room closed because...well......it's their room and they can do pretty much what they want with it. My younger son's "projects" take up his half of the room. When they start to "grow" we...
3. ...have them do a once-a-month-gut-the-room thing. Everything except the gotta-haves gets pitched.

It's easier now that they older, so trust me, this stage will pass. In fact, younger son has moved from the huge projects that take up the room to bunches and bunches of notebooks filled with ideas, designs, etc. 100% easier to store, thankfully.

Good luck.

 

[arminnie]

I thought his decorating was awesome! Don't worry about it being a fire hazard! I have WAY more paper clutter than that

He must be a fun little boy to have.

As someone who worked in the IT area for major corporations with strict safety rules - that paper is not a fire hazard. I once saw an office decorated with thousands of business cards from old companies.

Maybe this is just average but he seems exceptionally creative and talented to me.

 

[Gigi22]

OP--just another thought, an elaboration of my first post--could you enrol your son in a computer-based art course? Think of it--a Disney/Pixar artist in the making!

 

[dixonismydog]

My kids have paper everywhere!!! I am highly creative and so are they. And....that's a good thing.

I LOVE your son's room. Why does everyone think, it needs to look like something out of a magazine to be comfortable? I am sure he takes GREAT pride in what he creates for his room.....and what more can you ask for than that. It is nice to see kids taking interest in something, besides the Wii or PS3. I think you are a wonderful Mom, for allowing him to express his creativity!

Enjoy the time you have with them........even if they are a little "messy"!

Oh and I wanted to add....there is nothing wrong with good ole" fashioned pen and paper. While the chalkboard and dry erase paint and all of that good stuff looks pretty, 98% of our famous artists, writers and cartoonists used good ole' fashioned pen and paper.....and it works just fine!!

 

[dixonismydog]

Thanks for the advice, guys. Perhaps I overreacted at Marrionette's post, I prickeld more at the WAY she said to paint the walls, than at the fact she said to paint the walls. She's responded with this same tone in more than one of my threads (including stalking my posts on occasion), so today I was just done with it. Thanks again, to everyone else who offered suggestions. --Katie

I do have to say as well.....I don't think you overreacted. It was worded in a nasty tone, no doubt about it. When we feel attacked, we feel the need to retaliate....it's called human nature.