7 Easy Ways to Share Minimalism with Your Kids

A guest post by Rachel Watson

Today I’m sharing a guest post from Rachel Watson of OurStart. Rachel’s sharing her tips and ideas to help share minimalism with your kids.

Start with your “why”

When choosing to declutter, simplify and embrace minimalism, it’s important to include your family in the process. Especially sharing why you are decluttering, simplifying and embracing minimalism. If you share the benefits of simplifying, it can help your kids and your family understand why you’re choosing minimalism, why it’s important and how it improves your life.

Trying to force your family to declutter and simplify is not an effective way to encourage them to join you in embracing minimalism. But setting an example, including them in the process and sharing the benefits and the why behind what you’re doing can be much more effective. Kids are always watching and learning from us. Use your decluttering and minimalism journey as an opportunity to include your kids and have conversations about minimalism with them.

Rachel’s post shares some great tips you can use to share minimalism with your kids, lead by example and include your kids in your minimalism journey. I hope you enjoy this guest post. Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

Tips for Sharing Minimalism with Your Kids from a Young Age

Is one of your goals to have a simpler and less cluttered life in 2018? Do you desire to instill minimalism in your kids from a young age? Well, if you answered yes to either of those questions, you’ve come to the right place. Today we are talking about how to share minimalism with your kids, even if they are too young to understand it completely.

Live Out Minimalism Every Day

Kids want to be like their parents, plain and simple. If they notice you not buying as many material things, getting rid of clothes in your closet, or having less furniture, they’re going to notice. This is especially true as they start getting older and can see more clearly what other parents and families are doing differently than you. Of course, there are going to be days that you slip up and aren’t perfect, but embrace those times. Realize that every day is an opportunity to teach your children something, so why shouldn’t it be minimalism?

Answer Their Questions

It’s almost inevitable that your kids are going to be curious about what you are doing. There may be times they ask why other kids have more toys or a bigger house? Instead of shrugging it off, be honest with them. Take this as an opportunity to explain the roots of minimalism to them and why you’ve chosen to have your family live that way. Share the benefits minimalism gives to your family. This can help them to understand and feel comfortable asking you questions in the future.

Take Them Shopping With You

When you do go shopping, take your kids along with you for a learning experience. If they can observe you choosing carefully the things you need and the things you don’t, that will transfer into their own shopping habits. It is also great if you take your kids shopping for their own things. You can start asking them questions like, how often they think they would wear that? And do they really need another toy? This is going to help them be more aware of purchasing things in general, rather than buying the latest this or newest that.

Try A Capsule Wardrobe

If your kids are older, and you do a capsule wardrobe, why not include them in the fun? This can help give them perspective on the clothing they really need and those they can live without. Even if they don’t do a full-blown capsule wardrobe, just the act of going through their clothing can create opportunities to share more about minimalism with your kids and get them to have a greater appreciation for it. Start small, like getting rid of a couple shirts during each seasonal change, and go from there.

Regularly Clean Out Their Stuff

Every couple of months, practice going through your children’s things, and your things as well, and seeing what you no longer have a use for. This will help your kids to wear and play with the things that matter most to them. That way, you’ll be teaching them not to put too much value on material things.

Focus On The Experience Over The Expense

When your kids are young, they have no value of money. They don’t care about how much something costs, what brand something is, or going to a certain restaurant. They are just happy spending time and being with you. Embrace this unique time and teach your kids that the experience is what matters. Try giving your children experience gifts instead of actual gifts. Spend time being outdoors as a family, or doing a fun activity inside when the weather prevents it. And when you are all together, put your phone away. Cherish this time without the clutter of social media, and you will be giving your kids a greater gift than any physical present.

Practice Having A Grateful Attitude

Teach your kids the art of having a grateful heart from a young age. Practice saying aloud things you are grateful for every morning or before your kids go to sleep. I’ve heard of families going around the table before dinner time and all having to say one thing they were grateful for that day. Let’s face it, minimalism can be challenging at times. But if your kids see you maintaining a positive, grateful attitude, that will go a long way for your children. Show your children that having a grateful attitude can change your perspective and help you see what you have is enough.

As you can see, there are so many little ways you can share minimalism with your kids each day. These don’t require you to take any extra time out of your day or change your routine too much. I hope that these tips can help you to show your kids the importance of minimalism every day.

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Rachel Watson is the website manager at OurStart.com. OurStart is a lifestyle blog for women in their 20s and 30s. They regularly publish content on pregnancy, parenting, marriage, and family. When Rachel is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring cute cafes, and playing with her miniature schnauzer.