When you won't let your kids watch t.v.

Sometimes they end up having tons of fun despite themselves. I told Dale and Emma they couldn't play video games or watch tv (I try and keep them under 2 hours a day for all screen time although we make a few exceptions occasionally). I needed to try and get William to sleep and they had to entertain each other. After some grumbling I heard excited laughter and talk coming from the kitchen (I was in my bedroom). Emma runs in and tells me they are building a house. She goes back out and ten or so minutes later both run in the room. "Mom, Mom come look at our house, we built a house". Dale further explains "We read Give a Pig a Party and got the idea to build a house to play in". I emerge from the hallway and see this (but without the heads peaking out, those were put in for the photograph):

This is why I make and effort to limit screen time. I love it when their imaginations are engaged. They have come up with so many fun things when they wish to and I have fun seeing the result (most of the time). What really excited me about the tent was they got the idea from a book and then came up with how to make it together without my help. We haven't made a blanket fort before, at least not very recently. I like to think I have little creative geniuses on my hands!