7.26.2006

WFMW: Small and Simple Things


Thanks to Shannon, the great hostess of WFMW - check out other great ideas over at Rocks in My Dryer!

My idea today is not rocket science, just something I realized recently that indeed makes my life in Little Boy Land much easier. And them happier, too. It's inspired by the doorknobs to the nursery in the Beehive House. I saw them for the first time when I was eight or nine, and I've never forgotten them (or the joy of historic homes...): On the nursery door in that house, the doorknobs were installed about 18-24 inches from the floor, so that the littlest children could reach them comfortably. How sweet is that? (Especially when I personally rue the day my kids could reach doorknobs, turn them, and push a door open.)I just love the idea of thinking on the child's level for a few things, so here are three little variations on the reachable doorknob for me and my boys:

1. Dixie cups. They're not just for the bathroom sink area. 3-ouncers hold about as much as either of my little guys wants to drink at one sitting or as much as I'd like to mop up. They don't have lids, filters, or straws to locate and assemble, or rubbery spillproof attachments that are invisible in the garbage disposal, and since the boys sip these little drinks right in the kitchen, I'm not always looking for the sippy cup they were using this morning only to find the one they used last week, in a state of putrification. Plus, they sell handy little Dixie Cup dispensers for about $3, so you can keep them contained right by the kitchen sink.

2. Little "Joy" ice cream cones. They are less than half the size of a regular ice cream cone. I use a melon baller to scoop the ice cream. My boys love popsicles, but I'm not crazy about the stained shirts, hands, and faces and drips from here to there if we're planning to go out or whatever, so ice cream is a great alternative for a cool summertime treat. These little cones thrill my boys and they contain just enough ice cream to be manageable for the boys and not enough to melt and drip even to the wrist, let alone the elbow and belly button like a larger ice cream. Plus, I like to watch Henry eat with his pinky up.



3. Child-size backpacks. I've rebelled for a long time about individual bags for each child when traveling because I thought it would just create more stuff for me to keep track of en route, but this last time on the flight back, I divied their flight entertainment and some little snacks into the pockets of a backpack for each of them. Cal and Henry adored them, owned them, kept busy opening and shutting them, gettting their own treats or toys out and putting them back during our trip. It was adorable and really helpful to me - less rummaging in the deep dark single carry-on, and entertainment in itself for the boys.

These are just a few of the ways that looking at the world through their eyes every now and then simplifies life for all of us. Thinking small. Works for me!

10 comments:

Mama Duck said...

Good idea, that's so sweet!! Happy Wednesday, ours is up as well!

Katherine@Raising Five said...

I love the little pudgy hand on the cone. My little one carries her own "diaper bag," a cute crocheted backpack-style purse just big enough to hold a diaper and small thing of wipes. She wears her responsibiility with such pride. What a great pic at the airport!

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of thinking "childsize" Have something adjusted to them rather than the other way around for once!

On our first trip to the Netherlands together, I bought her a little Eyore Backpack/case on wheels. I filled with new books, crayons and a notebook for colouring. She loved it and her case has come with us ever since!
It's also great for when she goes to her Nannie's in the morning.
She feels like a big girl having her own case.

T.S. Eliot said...

I love the tips, and especially the coresponding photos. Once again your boys are adorable.

Gina Conroy said...

Wow! I do all those things! Great minds/moms think alike! My kids are 4, 6, 9 and 12 and when we go camping or on a short trip, they each have a small suitcase for clothes and a backpack for toys. And the best thing is they're responsible for carrying them!

Stephanie said...

We do the backpacks and love it. My 2 year old thinks she is big stuff taking her own bag with her. :)

The Amazing Trips said...

I love the little ice cream cones. The only place I've seen them is at a local restaurant ... I need to look more closely at the grocery store!

The backpacks are great. Even at 21-months, our kids LOVE wearing them around the house.

Good tips! :)

Anonymous said...

i bought those tiny cones by mistake once and we liked to died laughing when we pulled one out of the box then noticed that the box had a picture with "actual size" in small print. but my kids loved them.

joyfuljourney said...

Look at that sweet little pinky sticking up! My 2 1/2 year old does that too!

Bright One said...

Oh my gosh I love the little ice cream cones! They are so cute! (Is food cute?) I don't have little ones anymore but I do have little nieces and nephews and they would be perfect for them. Also regarding the doorknobs....I was watching something or other on HGTV the other day and they had installed ALL the light switches low on the wall like that. They said it was just the right height for adults too as when your arm hangs down at your side your hand just hits that spot. Bet they never considered doorknobs though!