Simplicity Parenting

Since we're moving and i have about 100 new things to do each and every day it seemed like the perfect time to start a new parenting book that would totally change my world. Makes sense right? It's been on hold at the library actually for a month or two and just came in last week, but it's been super powerful, and in the end maybe perfect timing.

Simplicity is something matthew and i thought we had been working on for a while, but often people, or moving or just sometimes the sheer mess of our house remind us how very far we are from that goal. This book on simplicity in parenting has really helped me find freedom to help create the environment (space, time, rituals, etc.) that i really want for Abby and Bebo as they grow up.

As we move, i decided to focus a bit on toys and stuff since this is a good time to prune our things and rethink how i want to set up our next space. The author is a child psychologist and advocates that less, much much less (as in maybe 10% of what most kids currently have less) is what their little selves really need to be able to explore their outer and inner world at their own pace with their own creativity. He feels that toys are either "fixed" or not. Fixed toys are the new toys, fad toys, the light up and made up toys. They already have all the fun built into them and you only need to press a button to have your senses fired up. They send kids on neurological highs (t.v. is the ultimate example) that leave them unfulfilled/unaware by the little things in the world that they might otherwise be exploring. The other toys are ones that need life and creativity breathed into them, the ones that will amuse children for hours, days, and years as they get lost into deep play that evolves and develops with the child. These are the classic toys of dolls, blocks, dress up clothes, instruments, art supplies, etc.

He also offers offers the idea that just a few of each (no more toys than your child could pick up in 5 minutes?!!) are enough with a toy library in storage to pull out and trade from time to time. As many choices as Matthew and i pride ourselves in trying to give her, the author believes that when it comes to stuff, all the choice actually overwhelms and causes more stress than children little brains are ready to accommodate. I was shocked when he even extended this belief to books and feels like there should be maybe 5-10 books on a book shelf at a time. (this is extremely comical to anyone who has been in our house... especially since abby's book shelf is resembling matthew's more and more each day).

The consumerism of our culture that goes quickly through what we have, always needs more, and lacks creativity to see a different way scares me even though i participate in it. I have realized that my hopes and dreams for something different for my children starts now, which shouldn't surprise me, but it does. Maybe this is even part of God's plan for helping our Matthew and I to actually make some of the bigger simplification steps that always seem to remain elusive. How the little ones lead us!