For a few weeks, now, Eleanor has been asking for help learning how to clean windows. Her fascination with window cleaning dates from a long time ago (about 3 years) when she determined that she could climb up on the sink, fill the sink with water, and use the hand towel to rub water all over the mirror---and if she did this, I wouldn't get mad at her. She also learned that it was ok for her to get a wet paper towel and rub it all over the windows.
Just recently, she realized that when she did these things, the windows and mirrors didn't actually get clean! She was spending a lot of time on this, trying to get her mirror clean, and Michael pointed out that what she really needed was some windex and a paper towel. Ever since then, she's been asking when we could get her some windex: "Mom, don't forget to get something for cleaning windows when you go to the store today!"
Well, on Saturday we finally remembered to pick up her very own spritzer. She carried it through the store, grudgingly surrendered it to the check out woman and sat it next to her in the car all the way home. When we got home I found her a roll of paper towels, instructed her in cleaning windows, and sent her on her way. She likes "spritzing" the windows best, but will dry off the windows. She did all of the downstairs windows, as well as the windows in her room and Luke's room.
She did not do a perfect job, but really she did get the greasy hand prints off the windows and left just a few streaks---quite impressive. Thus we see the benefit of letting a 5 year old think that something is her own idea, instead of something the parent wants to have done.
Just recently, she realized that when she did these things, the windows and mirrors didn't actually get clean! She was spending a lot of time on this, trying to get her mirror clean, and Michael pointed out that what she really needed was some windex and a paper towel. Ever since then, she's been asking when we could get her some windex: "Mom, don't forget to get something for cleaning windows when you go to the store today!"
Well, on Saturday we finally remembered to pick up her very own spritzer. She carried it through the store, grudgingly surrendered it to the check out woman and sat it next to her in the car all the way home. When we got home I found her a roll of paper towels, instructed her in cleaning windows, and sent her on her way. She likes "spritzing" the windows best, but will dry off the windows. She did all of the downstairs windows, as well as the windows in her room and Luke's room.
She did not do a perfect job, but really she did get the greasy hand prints off the windows and left just a few streaks---quite impressive. Thus we see the benefit of letting a 5 year old think that something is her own idea, instead of something the parent wants to have done.
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