December 30, 2008

Coloring book conundrum

If you read the last post, you know we have a coloring book problem at our house. 90 in total to be exact. Some are activity books. Some are wipe off letter or number practice books. But I'd guess 75% or more are coloring books. And probably 50% of them have never been touched.

My kids get a coloring book & they latch on to it. They all want to pull pages from the same book & color together. More often than not, they'd rather have blank printer paper to draw on than a picture to fill in.

I have probably bought 5-10 coloring books for them ever. The rest have been gifts. Most (by far) are from MIL. She gives them new coloring books & card games at every available opportunity. I can't tell you how many packs of Go Fish cards we've been through in the last 5 years. When I find stray cards laying around the house, I throw them out. I know in another month they'll have a new pack...or they'll find the other three packs I have hidden in the house.

I think I need to purge a bit...or hint to MIL that we need more coloring books like we need more cats.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

MIL is bringing out their artistic and gaming side eh?

Nice quiet time activities.

Brando said...

I would just say...

" I was cleaning the other day, and we have 90 coloring books. The kids probably won't need anymore until they have grandkids."

Parents are great that they want to give the kids stuff and spoil them. We have asked for food. My kids love Mandrin Oranges -fruit cups so now they get fruit cups instead, and we are all happy.

If nothing else just keep collecting them and then donate them to WIC or something that they can give them to kids that might not have them.

Kork said...

holy cow! We have to have the "talk" with the uncles...my brother gives the best gifts ever, but my kids are SET for toys until they turn 7 I think...

And you know what? There's no good way to tell MIL (I know her...I know this to be true) other than flat out that coloring books are NOT needed, but maybe, if she wants to get the kids something, you and FarmBoy can make a list of approved things she can buy for them...or else, just tell her you'd rather she put the money she'd spend on them in an envelope for each kid, and then, at a designated birthday (say 13?) they get the cash to put in their savings account/piggy bank?

We had to do that with my MIL...and she's pretty good so far...OY!

Glad to hear you're better!!!!

Gail said...

Thin selectively...some pictures make wonderful transfers for embroidery.

Listen to me, Queen Hoarder(me) needs to thin also!