1. Encourage single focussed activities.
2. Help them to trim down their timetable.
3. Review their diet with them to see if it can be made more nourishing and enjoyable and less processed.
4. Encourage them to walk, cycle or swim whenever possible. Make a pact to leave the car at home at least one day per week.
5. Encourage their observation skills, using all their senses. This will also help them to slow down. (What can you see? What can you smell? Etc)
6. Try to have at least one family meal per week i.e. where you’re sat around a table together at the same time with no other distractions such as TV.
7. Introduce your child to growing some fruit or vegetables to help them make the link between the food on their plate and a sustainable production process.
8. Read to each other, even when your child is well past the stage where they’re “learning to read.”
9. Play board games together as well as video games.
10. Leave them alone when they appear to be “doing nothing”. When they say “I’m bored!” rather than rush to come up with suggestions for what they might do, just be at peace with their boredom and be available to listen to them.
11. Play music, tell jokes and stories, sing or dance together.
What other ideas do you have?
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2 Responses for "Ways to Encourage Our Children to Live More Simply"
Sally
Thank you for your post. With people connected to cell phones, ipods, computers, etc 24-7, we sometimes forget that it’s the simple pleasures in life that are most meaningful. Keep doing what you’re doing. We need these reminders!
Simple and meaningful – exactly! Thanks for your comment Anna and great to see you here :o)
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