[lotophage]

I have the makedo and the screws are legit amazing. I never imagined that they could possibly work so well. It's one of those things I always recommend to other parents.

The very real downside is that your kids become attached to their creations. So you end up with a house perpetually full of cardboard and fighting a constant battle to part with some of it.

[itronitron]

In one of my art history classes we learned of a Bauhaus (or Dada?) artist that would stack their old belongings into the corners of their apartment and then plaster over it in order to reduce the clutter in their home. Might be worth trying out.

[yojo]

FWIW, my kids never took to the screws, but are still ridiculously attached to their creations.

I strive to be open and honest in my parenting, but these battles just don’t seem worth everyone’s investment. A box spaceship that hasn’t been touched in a week is quietly “disappeared” to the basement, and if it’s not inquired after by the end of a month it goes to recycling.

[deadbabe]

This just creates trauma that leads to more hoarding behavior as they try to keep things from disappearing in the future.

Instead, you need to complete the lifecycle of a creation. They should know things they make won’t last forever, and you need to encourage the destruction when the time comes, and after that, they can create a new thing to fill the void, and the cycle continues.

[staplung]

> is quietly “disappeared” to the basement.

No comrade. Is better if box spaceship falls from balcony or attends special tea-party.