Week 1: Why Simplify? 

We have a powerful parenting opportunity...

Quite simply

By simplifying we protect the environment for childhood’s slow essential unfolding of self. 

Our society with its pressures of “too much” is waging an undeclared war on childhood. 

The pace of our daily lives is increasingly misaligned with the pace of childhood. 

A protected childhood allows for the slow development of identity, wellbeing and resiliency. 

Like any work of art, families need inspiration, fresh infusions of hope and imagination. 

Our daily lives can become disconnected from the hopes and dreams we hold for our family. 

Simplification signifies a change, a realignment of our hopes and values with our everyday lives. 

Too much stuff leads to too little times, too little depth in the way kids see and explore their worlds. 

All children are quirky. 

Stress can push children along the behavioural spectrum; when you simplify a child's life on a number of levels, back they come. 

The central struggle of parenthood is to let our hopes for our children outweigh our fears. 

Behavioural tendencies can be soothed or relaxed by creating calm. 

Our children come to us with a deep destiny that needs to be honoured. 

the values i want to teach my children...

Or in other words, what is most important to us as a family? 

Create a list of values and you may choose to narrow them down to your top three.  Write them down in your notebook.  Keep them visible if you wish.  You can come back to your core values when prioritizing and making decisions. 

Who we are and how we engage with the world are much stronger predictors of how our children will do than what we know about parenting.  

— Brene Brown

collage activity

Imagine when your family is at their best— golden moment.  When?  What are you doing/not doing?  Draw a picture, cut out images from magazines or pin images on Pinterest.  Songs, mantras, quotes, visual boards, memories act as golden threads that weave themselves through the 'ups' and 'downs' of family life. 

You can keep this activity as simple as you wish and also wait until the time is right.  To give you an example, I've added our song and a vision board I created using Pinterest and Canva. 

Of course, we all have our own way of gaining inspiration.  Share in the FB group. 

When I heard this song, I instantly knew, "this is our family song".  We dance in the kitchen to it and we also play it when we need a boost, because we all know we need that sometimes.  This song and the board, speak to some of our values.  Adventure, togetherness, nature, relaxing, cuddling. 

simplicity change process

IDENTIFY dissatisfaction. 

IMAGINE how things could be, how you’d like them to be. 

DESIGN one small doable change. 

FULFILL your change

REVIEW celebrate, review and plan your next move. 

imagine your home...

As a place where times moves a little more slowly. 

Becoming a little less cluttered and more visually relaxing. 

With space and time for childhood and time for each other every day. 

As a place where play and exploration are allowed and honored. 

Have more ease as you begin to limit distractions and say no to the stress of too much, too fast, too soon. 

As a sense of calm and security take hold. 

Becoming a place where those we love know they are loved, because of our attention to appreciation of them.