Chances are we all know of families where even the youngest family member can be pretty demanding when it comes to the latest, coolest stuff they see or hear of. Chances are too, that most of the time, these little ones get what they want, enjoy their prize for a bit, get fed up and start to yearn for the next big thing out there.
It becomes a cycle, really, and we don’t know how else to describe it other than excessive, and yes, sadly enough, wasteful.
There may be many parents out there who already realise where excessive tendencies will lead to if they’re not remedied immediately. Let’s face it, no one wants their offspring to grow up in a constant state of dissatisfaction, but unfortunately, that’s what happens to kids who can never be happy with what they have for long. — The attitude of gratitude just isn’t there!
Can things be turned around? Indeed it can — some may have a good deal to work on if they intend to see favourable results, and some may be lucky enough to have a clean slate, to begin with as new parents.
Does the size of your home matter?
It depends on how you see it. If you’re serious about going down the minimalist road as a parent and individual, then a smaller home does have its own set of benefits. Firstly, one can’t deny that homes have become quite expensive to own or rent. Still, ask any new couples who are already dwelling in small homes and chances are, they would have been advised to ‘get a bigger place’ to accommodate the additional family members, aka children, in the future. Is that necessary? Many families in the past, from all walks of life, grew up in small, modest homes and they seem to be just fine, provided their upbringing included lots of loving attention, good morals, and exemplary parenting techniques.
Many households for example, in the past and present, have made do without a dedicated nursery for a baby, and that’s just one aspect of living in a smaller home. An obvious upside of smaller living space is, of course, there will be less clutter in the house. This also means by default, that there’ll be fewer places/things to clean and upkeep. Living in a smaller space also means that you’ll tend to be physically and emotionally closer to your child.
Step back and reevaluate your life
Perhaps you’re not satisfied with living in a small place, or maybe keeping up with the dizzying trend of excessiveness is bringing you down. Wherever you are right now, it’s time to take a whole new look at your life, for it could be that you’re better off than you thought you were!
Mute the media, or at least minimise it
Nothing really good is coming from it anyway, for most of the time, they seem to be endlessly parading a whole lot of unnecessary stuff. Besides, if you’re considering to raise your family in a frugal, non-consumerism sort of way, you’ll be going against the powers of mass advertising. Latest movies too, with the sights of toys, junk food, apparel, and what nots in both the movie scenes and the compelling advertisements between them can be quite tiresome to screen on a daily basis. Television commercials are not just marketing to parents, but rather, to the children. They have a way of influencing little minds to yearn the latest sugar-laden breakfast cereal, candy, fast food, apparel, or toy. This is why some parents unwittingly end up spending more money than they should on every latest offering there is. This is exactly what you’ll be counteracting if you plan to go down the simple, minimalist path in parenting — the mindless materialism that still dominates much of our culture. So, minimize media as the crucial first step, and this includes the television for that’s where much of the offending advertisements are found. Opt for ad-free Netflix instead, for family movie time.
Go for books
Get your little one acquainted with books from as early as possible. Again, you don’t necessarily have to stock up on them — borrow them from libraries instead. This way, your family and you can be well-read without having to worry about dust collecting on the growing number of publications on the shelves.
Ditch the guilt
You can blame society for this one, but countless modern parents are somehow made to feel guilty of depriving their offspring of the best things in life if they don’t sign them up for every brain-enhancing class, take them to every movie, or buy them every new high-tech toy. Even the grocery store becomes a place of arguments between parents and children about which cereal they should buy. Advertising companies play a big part in taking you on this guilt trip, for there’s little they won’t do to get you to spend your money on what they’re trying to sell.
Don’t “buy” into it. You are not depriving your children and you don’t have to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ so to speak. Instead, aim to get your child to focus their attentions on more holistic aspects of life, which includes spending time outdoors for some fresh air, spending time with you in the kitchen for meal preparations, gardening or tending to balcony plants or even playing board games together as a family. These are some of the simplest yet best ways to stimulate their mental and emotional development — by letting the real world, real people and yes, real food, captivate, and interest them. Surely these are much more fulfilling than spending a chunk of their free time in front of the TV or playing video games while snacking on expensive, unhealthy snacks!
Declutter your life
Make decluttering a part of your life. You can involve your children in cleaning clutter around the house and also, as a part of learning to give, introduce them to the act of donating to charity. Give them a box and let them fill it with stuff they don’t use anymore, such as clothing or shoes that they’ve outgrown, to be given away to the poor and needy. The same goes for toys that they don’t play with anymore. Note: Make it a point to do the same and fill up your box too, for there’s no better way to teach something than by leading by example.
Being frugal can be fun!
There is a big difference between being thrifty and being in want. There are lots of nice ways to have fun in life without blowing holes in your wallets, and every parent should be taking advantage of these. Things like camping, going to parks, playing outdoor games, visiting museums, spending a day at the beach, cooking together, etc. can not only be enjoyable, but they can also turn out to be investments in the overall health and happiness of any child.
Be an example
You can’t expect your child to be frugal if you are constantly in envy of the latest gadget or if you engage in mindless shopping sprees yourself. Children develop values based on what’s going on in the home and since they are a highly impressionable lot, parents are in the best position to leave good examples.
Constantly reinforce good values
Perhaps the best thing a child can be taught is that there is more joy in giving than in receiving. Let’s face it — not many children nowadays know what’s it like to keep giving, helping, and offering one’s services. This is a powerful thing to teach, for when you influence a mind-shift towards thinking of others over one’s self, especially in a child, people tend to notice it, hence you may also influence society.
Featured image source: iStock
