10 Best Ways Parents Can Teach Kids the Minimalist Lifestyle

We all live a little differently, but most would agree that living a minimalist lifestyle is the way to go. And teaching kids about minimalism in the digital age is a little more difficult because the world around them is so full of technology. Still, there are ways to help parents teach their kids about the minimalist lifestyle.

Undeniably, teaching kids about minimalism is becoming increasingly popular among parents.

Parents teach kids precisely what to do and how to live a minimalistic lifestyle. And even though teaching your children about minimalistic living will be challenging at first, you may still find ways of achieving that goal. For example, there are ways in which you can explain to your children the benefits of living simply and ridding themselves of unnecessary possessions.

This article aims to help parents teach kids about minimalism and ways to start living a minimalist lifestyle right at home.

First, let us define what minimalism means.

In simple words, it is the art of living with only the required things for daily routines instead of having all sorts of unnecessary possessions (items) that would only take up your space and add up to the burden of life.

Minimalism can be practiced in life by either having a small home or working from home, making all you need instead of buying them, avoiding too much consumerism, and using just the basic things that would still make everything easier for you.

Needless to say, when it comes to your little ones, adjusting to minimalism should start with small things.

Start with Tiny Tots

Teaching toddlers or preschool-aged children about minimalism and living as simply as possible can be difficult. They do not yet understand what items are needed, nor do they know the consequences of owning too many things and wanting more.

It will be a great idea if your toddler or preschooler gets to play and have fun while learning the necessary things to live a minimalist lifestyle. You can start by making their toys simple and basic.

If your child gets used toys that are less expensive yet they will still get the same amount of satisfaction out of it, you can let them know that it’s more beneficial to get them used toys than it is getting them new ones because they can reuse the toy for a long time.

Instead of buying your toddler or pre-schooler new toys every time they ask you, have them do artwork and then frame it so they can hang it on their walls, such as drawing some flowers or painting something, then they can hang it on their walls as a decoration. This way, they will be able to see the things that they can do and appreciate it more than just throwing away after you buy them new toys over and over again.

Toys are often cheap and, therefore, easy for parents to buy. In addition to being inexpensive, toys are small enough that you can bring a lot of them into your home without too much trouble. Unfortunately, many people mistake buying too many toys instead of getting a few simple things and teaching your child the benefits of doing so.

Keep a Garden

Another way to help teach kids about minimalism is to get them involved in the garden. Growing their food gives children an understanding of where their food comes from and how much waste they create by throwing so much away. They also learn what’s fresh, healthy, and natural versus processed. Minimalism gardening is a great way to teach children about living simply.

They will be able to have natural and healthy food without using any chemicals or anything artificial, which helps build their immunity from common diseases that can kill them, all while growing their self-esteem with a lovely little garden right in front of the house.

By building their self-esteem, they can learn many things, such as how to be determined and utilize their time well. Gardening is one activity that you can do with your children while teaching them the values of life.

Give Your Child Minimalist Toys

Choose toys for your child that have the least number of parts, require the least amount of assembly, and can be used for multiple purposes. For example, try giving your child a few large blocks to play with instead of a box full of small pieces that can’t be assembled in any way other than the way they are originally packaged.

Encourage Them to Share and Re-use Toys

When you give your child a new toy, have her play with it for a few minutes before she is allowed to play with another toy. Then, encourage her to share the new toy with another child or sibling and re-use at least one item from another toy that has been outgrown.

Have Your Child Help You Throw Out Clutter

Let your child help you decide which items in the house or apartment need to be thrown out. Have them pick out items they don’t use anymore or are broken, and put those items into a box. Once the box is full, bring it outside and go through it together. Let your child pick out one item they want to throw away, and throw away the rest.

Don’t Fill their Toy Shelves

Don’t fill your child’s toy shelf to the ceiling. If you do, you will be giving the message that it is okay for your child to have more toys than they can play with or use at one time. Also, if there are too many toys in a small space, they may begin collecting dust and not being used to their full potential.

Don’t Let Them Decide What to Eat For Dinner

When deciding what to have for dinner, don’t ask your child if he wants spaghetti or tacos (or whatever meal you are planning on having). Instead, tell them what’s for dinner and then allow them to pick between two or three sides. Doing this can make sure that your child is getting as much food as possible on his plate and wasting less.

Show Them How You Throw Out Your Trash

When you empty the trash in your home, have an open can of pop or a bottle of juice on hand. Show them how you line your trash can with a plastic bag, pour the contents into it, and then tie or roll up the garbage bag. Afterward, take out one of these items from the kitchen pantry and recycle it. Having to throw out an empty pop bottle may be unpleasant for some children, but if they see their parents doing it, they will know what to do when the time comes.

Show Them How You Use Your Laundry Hamper and Clothes Line

If you have these items in your home, teach your child how to use them. When he has dirty clothes that need to go into his laundry hamper, make him throw them there on his own. If he has clean clothes that are no longer dirty, show him how to hang them up on the clothesline outside instead of putting them in his drawers.

For too large clothing to fit in his laundry basket, encourage him to fold them up and put them inside a drawstring bag that he can hang on the clothesline. He will need your help at first with these instructions. But after a while, you should be able to trust him enough to do it entirely on his own.

Teach Your Children to Wash Their Own School Uniforms and Play Clothes

Your child should be able to clean his school uniform. Ask him beforehand if he would like you to help wash his uniform or whether he would prefer to do it himself. Some children might need less supervision than others, depending on their age. The goal is that eventually, he can do it all by himself. Continue teaching him how to wash his clothes for everyday wear until you trust that he will remember each time on his own without being reminded.

Whether you live in a studio type unit in a Pasig condo or a townhouse you bought from Property Ph, the size of home does not matter with minimalism. You can still teach your kids. By teaching your child about minimalist living and taking these steps to teach them how to live this way themselves, you can ensure that your child will be a minimalistic adult.