Pretending

[Linnis]

Now I'm one to think imagination is a part of good fun as a kid, I do not want to stunt his growth or anything. Um, he wants to pretend to be a dog, once is a while is okay but now it's getting to be all the time.

I've decided to say "Jeremiah, when I ask you a question you will answer in words."

I can't stand not knowing what ruff means what. I also think he should have to be human while at the table, you know?

I don't want to mess him up, but shouldn't imagination have a time and place? Like eating time is not play time?

 

[okiemommy26]

Yes imagination does have a time and place and at the dinner table that is not the place or time for it. It will not hurt him to do what you say. Just tell them there is a time to play and time to not play and eating is the time to eat and not play.

 

[Princessperky]

I agree, play all you want, but there are times where reality MUST be followed. (like meals and answering parents and such)

Unfortunatly those times will grow, so get him used to short times now, before the reality of bills sets in .

I personally have VERY imaginative kids, but I always expect to be answered in a way I can understand, and am perfectly willing to let you lose out if you forgot, IE:

Me- "would you like some peanut butter?" (fav snack around here)
Them - anything uninteligable (by a child old enough to speak of course)
Me - "oh since I didn't understand, I'll guess, that must be a no"

It wont hurt them to miss out once and will make a VERY lasting impression (I generally warn before I refuse something though)

 

[paladin0260]

ok, what if, while you are correcting your son, he yells dragon up! and tries to fly away?

 

[Linnis]

Thank you. I've gotten him into a program the church runs for Thursday nights. He's got school friends but no outside friends really.

 

[rocklife]

I'm at the point of that too. Sometimes the whole pretend thing goes right into lying. With God's help, my son and I are also learning the balance of what is being silly, and when being a liar about things is wrong.

God's wisdom and discernment shows the difference.

 

[Linnis]

Yes, I've noticed that too Rocklife, my nephew has begun lying and then when he knows he'll get in trouble he'll say he was "pretending" to try and get out of trouble. I do not like being lied to and he's now getting punishments every single last time I catch him.

 

[Princessperky]

ok, what if, while you are correcting your son, he yells dragon up! and tries to fly away?

If you are DH you turn your head so he doesn't see you laugh. If me you clench your jaw in that, NOT gonna laugh, and NOT gonna look at Daddy!

Then discipline him for not listening, and remind yourself to keep it shorter, so he doesn't have much time to have fun while your talking. (oh and make sure you can leave or the kid does, so you can laugh .)

While DH is telling me impossibly long stories of trucks and bears and such, I ofgten interupt to ask 'is this real or pretend' because a lie is something not true that you forgot to explain is pretend.