Brush Your Teeth
February 17, 2008
These alphabet blocks were mine when I was a little kid. Back in olden times according to my children.
My 7 and 8 yr olds have this spelled out in their bathroom, on a bookcase right next to their sink. And yet every single night when I ask them if they have brushed their teeth, they respond, “I forgot.”
Posted by Chris @ 1:12 pm
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Olden times. What a hoot.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:21 pmBeware - lead paint. It wasn’t outlawed until the 70’s, I believe.
Maybe they don’t know how to read? You know how you homeschoolers are, depriving your children of a decent education…
February 17th, 2008 at 1:26 pmChris says: They don’t play with these blocks. They are just decorations.
I still have to remind my 14-y-o twice a day.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pmI like it!
February 17th, 2008 at 1:53 pmlol! I am glad I am not the only one whose visual clues are as ineffective as no clues at all!
February 17th, 2008 at 2:30 pmof course they forgot…why would they want to brush their teeth it is way too much work.
As an adult I LOVE TO BRUSH my teeth but when I was their age it was such a super chore.
February 17th, 2008 at 2:32 pmAdorable! So lucky that they have their own bathroom!
February 17th, 2008 at 2:43 pmMy kids have my alphabet blocks…I should put them up on a shelf instead of letting them get lost and chewed up by the dogs. Sigh…
February 17th, 2008 at 3:05 pmWhat a great idea to use the blocks. I may have to copy that one.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:30 pmMy son doesn’t forget, he’s just “too tired” - probably from all those chores he has to do in our suburban abode.
As for lead paint - hey, we all survived the 70s
February 17th, 2008 at 4:38 pmYou need to do the Cheek to Cheek lab I did with my 7th graders on Thursday. My students swabbed the inside of their cheek with a flat toothpick and then put it on a slide. You would not believe some of the things the microscope picked up (gross!). A couple of the kids were even like, “So, this is why I need to brush my teeth twice a day…” Um, yes, my little one. Some vowed to start doing it after lunch, too! It was a really fun way to look at animal cells.
February 17th, 2008 at 4:43 pmHa, it’s universal then. Why do they not remember. I guess because play is a child’s work so then real work is just forgotten?
February 17th, 2008 at 4:44 pmMy kids have 3 things to do at bedtime: brush teeth, go potty, and put on their pjs. They “forget” 2 of the 3 every time.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:06 pmMy blocks would have to spell “If You Sprinkle When You Tinkle, Be A Sweetie, Wipe The Seatie”
February 17th, 2008 at 5:41 pmUnfortunately, I don’t have enough blocks.
The first thing I thought of when I saw your picture was “WOW, not a spot of dust or grime, it looks so clean!” I don’t even let close friends and family see my childrens bathroom (or any thing up stairs for that matter).
February 17th, 2008 at 6:21 pmI don’t think the lead paint is a concern unless the children are using the blocks to clean their teeth.
February 17th, 2008 at 6:58 pmChris says: But it would explain why they can’t read, wouldn’t it?
That’s funny. My almost 4 year old needs the push, but my 17 mo. old is a tooth brushing fool. Anytime he’s near the upstairs bathroom he’s there with his toothbrush - or any toothbrush he can get a hold of.
February 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pmI love this site…I just found it and have only read patches of 2005 (for the longest time I thought you only posted towards the end of the month, because I didn’t realize each month had multiple pages). One of the ones I read was “Dear Miles”, around his first b-day….very precious. This is an incredible collection of memories, and reinforces my sneaking suspicion that of all the things you can give a child, a bunch of siblings may be the best. I grew up in a family of four kids and your descriptions totally remind me of our place growing up. Wild, loud, and in hindsight, wonderful. Your other site, a year off, is very inspirational! Love it!
ps my husband now thinks I am insane because I keep laughing out loud at the computer, and can’t read it to him through all my howling.
February 17th, 2008 at 8:59 pmWhat an adorable idea for decorating… I think I shall be “borrowing” that one!
February 17th, 2008 at 9:14 pmWell, if something sits there long enough you start to not notice it anymore, you know? Like a post-it that says,”Charlie–practice clarinet!!” For instance.
February 17th, 2008 at 10:21 pmSee…when I ask my youngest (6) as I’m tucking her into bed if she’s brushed her teeth, she’s usually pretty honest, saying no, but she’ll brush them twice in the morning. Who can argue with that logic?
February 17th, 2008 at 10:38 pmLove it!!
I finally don’t have to remind my 16 yr old to brush his.
But my 10,9,6 yr olds still have to be reminded.
The blocks are way cute!
February 17th, 2008 at 10:50 pmAdorable use of the blocks! I have the opposite problem with my almost 3 year old. She wants to brush her teeth 20 times a day.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:49 pmI used to always ask my mom about the “olden days” when she was little too! Where do kids get that? It’s so funny - as if you were Laura Ingalls in your youth!
February 18th, 2008 at 1:46 amWait, you have a bookshelf in your bathroom?
Must be for the boys!
Oh, how mine love to read when they are taking care of business.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:03 amChris says: Well there aren’t any books on it. But I am not sure what else to call it…
Wow, the lead pain comment has me shaking my head. “BEWARE THE LEAD PAINT!!!” Like it’s a pedophile on the counter.
But I commented to say that the first thing I thought of when I read your post title and saw the picture was a part in the PG version of the 300 trailer (you have to see it). Instead of lunging to cut off a guy’s arm with a super sword, they guy is lunging with a GIANT toothbrush and yells, “Brush your teeeth!”
February 18th, 2008 at 2:36 amAh the selective memory of childhood.
February 18th, 2008 at 8:33 amI love this! You smart little cookie you…
February 18th, 2008 at 9:45 am“I forgot” is an all encompassing, catch all phrase for most kids, isn’t it?
February 18th, 2008 at 9:46 amCute blocks.
Back in the olden days - I hear that often
The tooth brushing thing . . . how ANNOYING is it? I mean really - for the past 7 years my son has had to brush his teeth in the morning and at night . . . and sometimes after lunch if we’re home. Yet he STILL insists that he’s forgotten he has to do that. Really, dude? REALLY? You’d think just the repetition would help them “remember” 
I’m glad my kids aren’t the only ones with this issue
And the blocks are WAY cute - great idea!
February 18th, 2008 at 10:44 amThe olden days… ha! I amaze my kids by regaling them with tales of only one TV channel and a phone that was FASTENED TO THE WALL.
The humanity!
February 18th, 2008 at 1:14 pmOur kids just learned flossing with the little “picks” last week, so the little one (4) wants to floss all the time. How long before that novelty wears off?!
I think that’s a super-cute bathroom decoration though!
February 18th, 2008 at 1:16 pm“back in the olden days before there were DVD players and cable TV” is a common statement around here.
I have a book case thingy in my kid’s bathroom too - there is no linen closet so I put a book case in there - I neded some place to keep things in there. I need blcoks that say “put your clothes in the hamper, flush the toilet and hang up your towel”
February 18th, 2008 at 2:15 pm