I love my toddler boy and being able to spend so much time with him as his mom, but now that we’ve downsized our life quite a bit and live on an island not in a city, it is well…calmer. And I like it, but I’m not good at it…yet. So, I wanted to take a dive deeper into simple living or ‘simpler’ living and explore it a bit more and maybe even get comfortable with it. Let’s face it, I’m a type A, I’m a doer, it’s hard to relax, my way of relaxing is writing a to-do list. Yep, that’s me. But, slowly I’ve been making changes since I moved here. I’ve been reading a little more, sitting with my thoughts, having some good, reflective downtime, praying more and as of late I’ve taken up a bit of Yoga (I say a bit because I’ve only been doing it for a week), but this time around, I’m really savoring it as I center myself and breathe in what is important and breathe out what is not. Here are a few books I found that I bookmarked awhile back and would love to read soon, after my other want-to-read book stack becomes smaller.
Description: When you learn to awaken your family’s creativity, wonderful things will happen: you’ll make meaningful connections with your children in large and small ways; your children will more often engage in their own creative discoveries; and your family will embrace new ways to relax, play, and grow together. With just the simple tools around you—your imagination, basic art supplies, household objects, and natural materials—you can transform your family life, and have so much more fun!
This book embraces a whole new way of living that will engage your children’s imagination, celebrate their achievements, and help you to express love and gratitude for each other as a family.
Description: Today’s busier, faster society is waging an undeclared war on childhood. With too much stuff, too many choices, and too little time, children can become anxious, have trouble with friends and school, or even be diagnosed with behavioral problems. Now internationally renowned family consultant Kim John Payne helps parents reclaim for their children the space and freedom that allkids need for their attention to deepen and their individuality to flourish. Simplicity Parenting offers inspiration, ideas, and a blueprint for change:
• Streamline your home environment. Reduce the amount of toys, books, and clutter—as well as the lights, sounds, and general sensory overload.
• Establish rhythms and rituals. Discover ways to ease daily tensions, create battle-free mealtimes and bedtimes, and tell if your child is overwhelmed.
• Schedule a break in the schedule. Establish intervals of calm and connection in your child’s daily torrent of constant doing.
• Scale back on media and parental involvement.Manage your children’s “screen time” to limit the endless deluge of information and stimulation.
A manifesto for protecting the grace of childhood, Simplicity Parenting is an eloquent guide to bringing new rhythms to bear on the lifelong art of raising children.
Description: Many of us with busy families yearn for a slower and simpler life with our kids—one that is connected to the seasons and the natural rhythm of the year, one that has our children spending more time out of doors rather than in, one that balances out some of the busyness of our lives—the computers, the televisions, the cell phones—with a deeper connection to the Earth and an appreciation for and understanding of the natural world. The Rhythm of Family is a guide to living such a life for any family.
Following the course of a year through the passing of the seasons, this book explores the ways we can create deep family connections and meaningful memories through living in tune with the cycles of nature. From stomping around in mud boots in the spring to gathering around the woodstove in winter, our activities naturally change from season to season—from the rhythms of the seasons comes the rhythms in our homes, our hearts, our families, and our every day. Paying attention to these changes slows us down, inspires new types of creative play and exploration, instills a sense of family togetherness, and deepens an awareness of nature and self that can make our lives, days, family, and earth grow stronger.
Description: Children are natural scientists, artists, mathematicians, authors, and scholars. From the time they are born they seek out information about the world around them in an effort to construct meaning and further their development. Children have an inherent drive to make sense of their reality, and when given an enriching environment and supportive guidance they intuitively take advantage of the prospects for learning that are before them. Parents have a unique opportunity to harness their children’s curiosity and channel it into the development of habits of heart and mind that will serve them throughout their lifetime.
Playful Learning is the magic that takes place when we meld a child’s sense of joy and wonder with thoughtfully planned learning experiences. Through easy-to-implement, hands-on projects you can engage your child in fun and creative ways that encourage learning and impart the joy of discovery. In addition, discover ways to create a space conducive to learning and learn how to build a culture within your family that celebrates learning. With a little bit of information and forethought, you can play a pivotal role in the cognitive and creative development of your child.
{Descriptions taken from Amazon}
