Do your kids have too much stuff?...
I have been reading a lot of articles lately about parents who have decluttered their kids lives (taken all their toys away), and was inspired to write something on the subject.
I would like to state firstly that I do not have any kids of my own, and am not writing this from the perspective of being an authority on the issue. I am just interested in seeing how people feel towards this topic, and to gather ideas from the 1 Million Women community. Firstly, because it's coming up to the consumer crazy Festive season, and secondly, because the responses I've seen other articles get range from very appreciative readers, to horrified ones claiming it's bad parenting.
Ruth Soukup from Living Well Spending Less , concerned by her daughter's inability to enjoy the moment, 2 years ago took all her kids toys away. I mean literally stripped the room of her two daughters bare, down to anything that even resembled something toylike. She had no idea the paradigm shift this would cause in her families life and that an addiction to stuff could be broken so quickly.
Though she was worried at first that taking away all their toys might deprave them of some essential developmental need (which is what some critics thought), or take away their ability to self-entertain, the opposite actually happened. Her kids became more in tune and appreciative of the moment, and if a toy was brought back out to play with it would entertain them for the whole day instead of a whole minute.
So many people equate more stuff with happiness, parents included. It's a message that seems to be hammered into us since we are born, governed by the high consumerist culture of the West. This creates a vicious circle of always wanting more, never being content with what you've got, and causes one to forget the things that actually matter, like living in the moment.
But in the hurry of the holidays, sometimes it's the parents who allow the plastic trinkets and junky toy clutter in. With Christmas around the corner, now is a better time than ever to reconsider your families stuff, and perhaps the time to choose not to add anymore.
You don't have to be the grinch who stole Christmas, but just rethink if you will buy, or what you will buy for your kids this year. It is possible to ignore the external pressures telling you to 'buy more' and that 'the more you buy the happier you will make your loved ones'. After all, the Festive season is a time to share with your loved ones.
How about these gift ideas...
Try some family experiences together, rather than a material object. 'Moments not things' is one area we are focusing on in our 1 Million Women 'No Waste Festive Season Challenge '.
Or, how about buying more useful things than a piece of plastic, like personalised notepads, funky pens or book lights. All things to engage the imagination with.
What about a homemade DIY gift like a recipe in a jar, that all the family could have fun cooking and eating together. Last year my Mum received a gingerbread cookie recipe in jar and I thought it was such a wonderful idea, and something that kids would love.
A craft kit in a jar could be a fantastic idea too, and will give you a chance to reuse all those glass jars you've been looking to recycle.
REGISTER FOR THE NO WASTE FESTIVE SEASON CHALLENGE HERE
These are just a few ideas, and like I said, they all sound great to me as someone who doesn't yet have kids. So what I would really love is to hear from the 1 Million Women community on this topic.
Who has some great alternative gift ideas for their kids? Have any of you taken a similar path to Ruth Soukup to declutter your children's lives of things they don't 'need' and often do not 'appreciate'? Does anyone have some suggestions on how to do this (sustainably), and has it changed your families life?
We want to hear from you, so leave us a comment below!
I AGREE TO A NO WASTE FESTIVE SEASON.
In the days leading up to Christmas, 1 Million Women will offer an alternative to what has turned into a hugely consumerist holiday. We give you a path to take on which you can ignore the external pressures telling you to 'buy more' and that 'the more you buy the happier you will make your loved ones'.
The Festive season is a time to share with your loved ones.
Take up the personal challenge, join us for a 'No Waste Festive Season'! Register here and we'll support you every step of the way.
