Minimalism with Kids

Minimalism seems to be a daunting and overwhelming task. I remember my sister calling me that they will be heading on a minimalism journey and I was GENUINELY impressed. They have a huge house, so it seems like accumulating stuff is easy with plenty of space to use as storage. However, I recently asked her if they were able to keep that lifestyle. Unfortunately, they did fell off the wagon. Consistency and self-discipline are paramount to minimalism. I have purchased a book on Amazon, Spark Joy by Marie Kondo. Some of the reviews on Amazon suggested to first read her first book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing but I did not, I went ahead and read the Spark joy. I really like her concept and it just makes sense, keeping things that bring us joy. I love how detailed the book is, as far as where to begin the task. One of the things that were new to me was doing a task per category. Let's the category of books, you will then tackle all the books in your house. When I clean and declutter, I would always do it per area or per room.

I have also watched "Minimalism" on Netflix. I was impressed with their dedication, discipline, and commitment. It just makes sense, too much stuff surrounding us is OVERWHELMING. It is not just the material things, it is the overload of information, social media connectedness, and the lack of simplicity. We are not aware of how clutter affects our mental health. How much time is wasted organizing and cleaning? How much money we spent on storage containers and organizing tools. I am guilty of both. There were times that I am hesitant to get rid of stuff just to realize that I actually need it and will purchase it again. More often, once I get rid of stuff that doesn't get used, I do forget all about it. And when I store things in the garage, there is a great chance that I will also forget about it. This minimalism journey for my family is still a learning journey for us. If we are not proactive, stuff slowly creeps inside our tiny home. When I say stuff, I mean things that don't serve a purpose or it doesn't get used. Contentment and knowing what we really need are crucial. What is necessary for me may not be as necessary for your family. But looking back, I am glad that we have learned so much through the years and still have a lot to learn.

How about with kids? How do we do minimalism with kids? We only have two girls but I can truthfully say that this is an area that I', still working on. As I have mentioned earlier, we only have a small space and everything needs to have its own place We have to be minimalistic out of necessity. There was a time when I got so overwhelmed with all of my girl's stuff. I started decluttering in the bathroom. It felt like the doors were closing in with the abundance of our bathroom products. Can you believe that a family of four has 11 lip balms? I was amazed by how many hair accessories our kids have. Even though the majority of the products just inside the bathroom were gifted to us, I still wondered how much money will be wasted because I am now going to get rid of it.

This journey made me realize a lot of things. Minimalism is not mindlessly getting rid of stuff but keeping the things that bring us happiness or are useful in our lives. Minimalism is living within our means and realizing that being content is a state of mind and heart. Minimalism is being grateful for the essential and useful things in our house. I would like to share some tips or guides if you are thinking about minimalism, most especially if you have children. As you embark on this journey, remember to:

1. Involve the kids

It is their toys, their clothes, shoes, and books. Let them know that we are just going to pass it along to those who will need it and will pass the joy that the things brought us. We don't want them to feel resentment that we are too quick to get rid of their possessions. If your kids are like mine, they can be indecisive. You can still get them involved by limiting their choices. I would get rid of all the broken ones or toys are I am sure will not be played with.

2. Think about every purchase that you are about to make.

This takes a lot of self-control. Before you buy another pair of shoes or a vase. Ask yourself? Is it really important? How many do I really have? Will this be a smart purchase or I just have an urge to buy because you want to feel happy? Shopping gives us a quick high (thank you endorphins) but will that purchase really necessary though?

3. Keep or have things that are multipurpose.

I love purchasing items that have double or multiple uses like an ottoman that serves as a footrest and storage too. Think about an Instant Pot. I think that owning an IP is a smart choice because there are a lot of meals that you make in it plus it serves as a slow cooker too. I also love my cast iron. I use it regularly at home and pack it when we camp. I did not have to buy another set of frying pan for camping. Cast irons when you properly take care of them will last for a lifetime.

4. Keep in mind that minimalism will set you free.

I don't think many people realize the time that can be taken away from them when you need to declutter and organize all the time. Your time will be spent on each other instead of cleaning all the clutter. The tranquility of owning less is good for our mental health.

5. It is a process. Be patient.

It will not happen overnight especially if you have accumulated your things over the years. You will learn a lot during the process of minimalism. You will find out that certain techniques will not work with your family dynamic. No two families are alike in their minimalism journey. While you are in the process of minimalism, control the urge to shop.

6. Invest in memories instead of things

How about saving for a family trip that will bring great memories for your kids. Instead of purchasing a lot of souvenirs, we have a shadow box that we have converted into a smashed penny collection box. We also love to camp and explore the outdoors. You can gift an "experience" and not stuff.

7. Remember that toys break and may not be the hottest thing next year.

Parenting guilt is real even though we know that pure love is not expressed by providing material things. Time well spent is a gift. Intentionality is a gift. Putting our phones down to connect with our kids is a gift. We can spoil them with a quality gift than spending money on several gifts or things.

8. Do not push your conviction to others.

While it is really tempting to preach and share your minimalism journey, some people may not find minimalism beneficial. And that is okay! Stay in your lane and be willing to offer advice when asked. When other people see the benefits of your minimalistic attitude, you will certainly inspire them. Do not push your own conviction to others.

9. Remember that minimalism is not just about stuff.

We can be minimalist in several ways, minimizing time spent on social media or minimizing our time spent on overthinking and unhealthy thoughts. In our home, we should all be selective of all the things that our family can be exposed to. The shows that our kids watch, the negativity of the media, and just the roughness of the daily grind. Our home needs to be a safe haven for our children. It is also a mission of mine to keep our home a haven for our guests.

10. Lead by example.

We can not teach our kids about simplicity if they do not have good role models. We need to show them the intentionality of our purchases, the value of money and contentment doesn't come with owning more stuff. Our kids will learn more about how we live our daily lives than what we preach. They see. They observe. They absorb.