Pinterestification of Childhood

[2chatter]

Saw this on the Valentines thread and thought it was worthy of a spin off.

What do you think? Is this a thing?  Is it a thing in your world? 

[2chatter]

Coming from the mom whose daughters searched for hours for the perfect Valentines...then made them...

My two cents: I did craft projects with our neighbor and her son growing up. They came from books, not from the computer, but they were kitschy (like two tiles from Home Depot glued to match boxes with brads placed in them as drawer pulls as desk storage) and fun (like origami or paper photo frames or embroidery). My oldest spends HOURS searching for crafts on youtube. She is desperate to make home made puff paint. She made the cutest little corner bookmarks shaped like animals. She has made her own stationary. You get the idea. I think it's just the way kids access stuff now. And then all the maximizers of the world perfect it and pin it. The competitive side of it does bug me, but hey, at least it's introducing kids to the way life really works early (someone will always be faster, better, more determined - get on your game or decide to just play).

[20thirteen]

I try to do craft projects with DD, she's 20mo and I check out Pinterest to see if there is something cool to do with her. Most of the crafts we've done are ones that I remember doing as a kid though.

[twinmomma]

I'm like 2chatter - I grew up always making crafts. My sister and I spend hours sending pins back and forth to each other. We both quilt with my MIL, sew other stuff, we used to make our own jewelry.. It's just always been what my hobbies and spare time revolve around. So to me, the craftiness of Pinterest just means it's easier for me to find projects to do. The place I see Pinterest taking over is with party planning. Birthday parties get kind of out of hand in my opinion because of all the crap on Pinterest. But, I guess that's just a choice you make for your own family. I hope I'm raising my kids to believe that the birthday party they get is just as good as the Pinterest craziness a friend gets when they get to that age.

[olenka]

I have tons of craft books, and access to many more through the library, but pinterest is so damn convenient. It's just another source for ideas, I think.

Confession: Mainly I use pinterest to collect pretty pictures and pictures of cute animals. If I had a stressful day, I can just zone out and stare at them for a few minutes.

[xanthepants]

I'm totally a visual person. For years I had every design mag you can think of, cookbooks pouring off my shelves and an entire bookcase and closet devoted to craft supplies in my tiny apartment. Pinterest has eliminated most of the design mags and it's free.I love it. I could care less who follows me. I rarely post my completed items on FB, blogs or anywhere which to me is the negative reference the OP was drawing from Pinterestification. I love the party ideas because I love getting to plan and execute a party, no different than I did before Pinterest. I cut my kid's sandwiches up or try and make something cute to eat when she has a bad week of eating as an act of desparation not of trying to out-do anyone.

[b0710]

My confession is that I do not have a pinterest account and have never been on there. However, I often comment on friends recipes, ideas, etc. and they tell me they are from pinterest. Honestly, I'm afraid I would get sucked in looking at everything. I think both good and back come from there....clearly there are some great ideas that people might not otherwise have access to. However, I think it allows for a lot more judging one another, and even self-judging. That I believe is the greatest downfall.

I don't know if childhood is that different just because of pinterest, but maybe just because the world is more inter-connected now than ever before.

[queenbabee]

Feb 18, 2015 10:06:10 GMT -5 b0710 said:

My confession is that I do not have a pinterest account and have never been on there. However, I often comment on friends recipes, ideas, etc. and they tell me they are from pinterest. Honestly, I'm afraid I would get sucked in looking at everything. I think both good and back come from there....clearly there are some great ideas that people might not otherwise have access to. However, I think it allows for a lot more judging one another, and even self-judging. That I believe is the greatest downfall.

I don't know if childhood is that different just because of pinterest, but maybe just because the world is more inter-connected now than ever before.

Agreed.
Also, you are correct. Pinterest is a vortex lol!!

[somebabiesmom]

I'm not crafty. I have no interest in crafts. The only attraction I have to Pinterest is from the cute outfits my FB friends post from time to time - which is also a reason for me to not get on - b/c I do not want to shop.

I get ideas from Toddler Approved. I tried one once and my DS ended up at the ER. So now I weigh much more heavily whether it's really worth it or not for a novice crafter to be coordinating these types of things when there are young children with fast hands and open mouths involved.

[alioop1028]

I love Pinterest for inspiration. Since my job is designing shtuff, the easy access to ideas is awesome. And it makes party planning with a group of people amazing! You can make secret boards and the ones I have with my friends are fun when someone is getting married or we're planning a baby shower.

To me it's just the digitalization of a whole bunch of magazine clipping that you share with friends.

[McBenny]

I don't have a problem with pinterest. I have tried so many things. You do what you can. It doesn't bother me.

[jlaok]

I think that what we all call "Pinterest moms" have always existed. My mom is super crafty and sews so I grew up with homemade costumes, homemade treats, and overly crafted school projects. I think the difference was that there was no social media to post these things to and so it just wasn't widely known.

[RiseAndWine]

Feb 18, 2015 11:34:14 GMT -5 jlaok said:

I think that what we all call "Pinterest moms" have always existed. My mom is super crafty and sews so I grew up with homemade costumes, homemade treats, and overly crafted school projects. I think the difference was that there was no social media to post these things to and so it just wasn't widely known.

I totally agree with this. I WISH I was the crafty type. But I'm just not. My mom was a SAHM and we would make play-doh and do typical holiday crafts, but never anything too extreme. We weren't the baking perfect pinterest family even before pinterest. The people that gravitate to these types of things are the ones who would do it no matter the media.

I do think it's pretty cool there is such a site as Pinterest where everyone can show off or share their ideas. It has gotten me to think more creatively and step up my game in the areas of home decorating and family portraits and things, which I appreciate.

[dashofreality]

I love pinterest. Tons of good ideas and great inspiration. My only problem with pinterest is the 2873 ways to entertain your child this summer type stuff. I don't like this idea that we need to constantly entertain our children, and always need to be doing crazy over the top things for our kids. But that really has nothing to do with Pinterest I think it is a lot of factors, but mainly social media in general. Now instead people bragging/competing with their neighbors it is everywhere.

[sctiger]

Feb 18, 2015 11:34:14 GMT -5 jlaok said:

I think that what we all call "Pinterest moms" have always existed. My mom is super crafty and sews so I grew up with homemade costumes, homemade treats, and overly crafted school projects. I think the difference was that there was no social media to post these things to and so it just wasn't widely known.

I agree. I think those moms have always been out there, but now with social media I hate that it makes people think that everything needs to be a big production and they stress over making everything perfect because everyone will see the pictures on Facebook and will compare it to what other moms have done.

[Deleted]

I always did crafts as a kid.  Doing crafts with my mom who is crafty was fun.  I am not really crafty, so I don't do as much with my kids.  I feel like the pinterest thing is more for SAHM who need to do crafts with the kids as part of their education during the day.  My DC takes care of crafts, so I don't feel like I have to.

As a child I learned how to paint with acrylics and oils, and also to wood burn.  We did crafts in Girls Scouts and 4H.  I would like to do more, but honestly my kids are 4 and 2. A lot of the stuff that I would do like painting and wood burning/ wood carving would be through classes or at home, but are for older ages.  Right now cutting things and gluing things are not my style.  Neither is sewing, but I will try to teach them to knit/ crochet.  I am also not a great cook, so I plan to enroll them in cooking classes.  I really don't understand why I need to know and do everything when there are people out there who know a whole lot more than I do, so why don't I utilize them?

I do have Pinterest.  I feel like it is like an idea collection or bulletin board.  Just because I have it pinned does not mean I am going to do it, it is an idea.  So if people looking at other pinterest boards feel bad about themselves, I think that is silly.  I don't think people are doing even 1/4 or 1/8 of what they have pinned.  I decided to set my boards to secret, and have no friends.  That way it is just for me.  Honestly I don't care what other people do, and don't need to look at my friends ideas when all I have to do is click the search button.  I mean don't get my wrong, sometimes I am curious, but then I just look up the person not friend them.  There were some things I needed to work through, so I didn't want everything public and now I love that it isn't.  It is a judgement free zone, where I can let it all hang out. 

[Deleted]

Feb 18, 2015 12:22:07 GMT -5 sctiger said:

Feb 18, 2015 11:34:14 GMT -5 jlaok said:

I think that what we all call "Pinterest moms" have always existed. My mom is super crafty and sews so I grew up with homemade costumes, homemade treats, and overly crafted school projects. I think the difference was that there was no social media to post these things to and so it just wasn't widely known.

I agree. I think those moms have always been out there, but now with social media I hate that it makes people think that everything needs to be a big production and they stress over making everything perfect because everyone will see the pictures on Facebook and will compare it to what other moms have done.

I put no pictures on FB- problem solved, and if they judge me for not putting pictures on FB then I don't want to be their friend anyway.  I find its much better than dealing with those braggy types.  I would literally have people put up a status after I put mine up (in competition).  I needed to nip that in the bud real quick.  My favorite quote of the moment for the topic is (I am paraphrasing- too lazy too look it up):

In a Competitive World, Choosing not to Compete is a Revolutionary Act.  OK I get competing over jobs maybe, but why do I need to compete over my kids or how great a mom I am.  Its OK, we can all be great moms and have great kids. 

[somebabiesmom]

Feb 18, 2015 11:30:14 GMT -5 @carbenatar said:

I have friends who would probably be embarrassed for me if [insert pretty much anything]. 

The glue that binds. I'm pretty sure this is a defining part of most of my friendships.

ETA: A laugh-at-myself moment yesterday that is a perfect example. Two old ladies blacklisted me yesterday at the public library while handing out flyers for a kids' game day. One woman went to give me a flyer and the other one kicked her. I have no idea what prompted this, b/c - dude - my hair was done!

[CoverGirl82]

I'm not really a crafty person, but I do some scrapbooking now and then. When I have free time, I'd rather be doing other things. I do have a Pinterest account, but mostly I look at recipes that are shared. (I would also agree that "Pinterest moms" have always existed, but the internet and technology just makes them more visible now.) I think if I was a SAHM, and had more time to do crafts and activities with my kids, I would spend more time on Pinterest getting ideas.

[GlitchSQ1]

I used to be a crafty person, but have since decided I love sleep and mindlessly surfing on the internet more. I would probably do it more if I was a SAHM.

[liziz]

I like it mostly for recipes - not some insane cake I can't decorate, but rather, as a visual bulletin board for recipes I want to try (and a separate one for the tried and true ones).

The rest is just fluff, mostly. Although I did make a board for decorating my nursery.

[sandandsea]

I like crafts and remember many of the crafts I made as a kid and that I really enjoyed. So, if I'm looking for a fun project for DS, I may check out Pinterest. I also get ideas from other parents, facebook friends, see something in the store, etc. DS enjoys crafts and it's something fun we can do together and I think most crafts are great learning opportunities. I think it can get overboard when parents start trying to outdo other parents with the best ever thing that doesn't even involve the kids. Some people just enjoy crafts though, and I see nothing wrong with it then.

[jbm]

I use Pinterest for recipes and home ideas, mostly. I'm not very crafty, and don't have a lot of time to do some of the more labor intensive crafting projects.

I think the social media aspect of it has really made it much more in your face. No one just has birthday parties around here; everything is themed to the extreme, with matching decor and favors and cakes and outfits and games. I realize no one is forcing this, but it seems to have raised expectations a bit.

[jbm]

That said, I think it is a great resource for ideas of things to do with kids. It's mostly the entertaining type things that I have issues with.

If I go to one more mason-jars-burlap-succulents-chalkboard-everything wedding, ...

[rubberchicken]

Feb 18, 2015 11:50:18 GMT -5 dashofreality said:

I love pinterest. Tons of good ideas and great inspiration. My only problem with pinterest is the 2873 ways to entertain your child this summer type stuff. I don't like this idea that we need to constantly entertain our children, and always need to be doing crazy over the top things for our kids. But that really has nothing to do with Pinterest I think it is a lot of factors, but mainly social media in general. Now instead people bragging/competing with their neighbors it is everywhere.

OOP here - this is what I was talking about when I said the "pinterestification of childhood".  The idea that everyday, everything needs to be perfect and DYI, and even better if you're the first one who thought of it.  First it was over the top birthday parties, and now it's the crazy elf on the shelf, and who can take a photo of it being the craziest, and who can make the most unique snack for the 100 days of school (??) party, and "celebrating" every minor milestone.  To me, it just seems like useless competition.  And for what - no one's giving out gold stars to the person with the best homemade bunting.