Are you tired of all the STUFF kids come with? Are you at the point of feeling overwhelmed by everything that has accumulated over the years? I know. I’ve been there. The biggest struggle for me was getting my kids on board with minimalism. Why is it that EVERY toy was a special one that they just HAD to keep? In this post, I’ll give you 5 easy ways you can get your kids on board with minimalism.
I’ll never forget the day when I said “Enough is enough.” I realized that stuff was ruling our house. Stuff we had to take care of, stuff we had to clean, stuff we had to pick up to clean…the list went on and on.
Over the course of the next several months, I ended up downsizing our things in literally every room of the house. In fact, this is the exact way I got started reselling (flipping thrift store finds for profit)! Little did I know my obsession with decluttering and minimalism would turn into a profitable naptime business making me over $50k!
As a side note, if you’re interested in this fun way to make money from home, I offer a FREE 5-day Reseller Bootcamp where I show you EXACTLY how I make over $30/hour flipping thrift store finds. Sign up here to get started now!
So back to 5 easy ways to get your kids on board with minimalism….
It was easy for me to see that we needed to downsize our accumulations. It was another story for the kids.
You can probably relate. If you’re kids are anything like mine, they have probably insisted on keeping every single one of their toys.
So here are 5 of my tried and true ways for getting kids on board with minimalism.
1. Lead By Example
This goes for pretty much any topic. As parents, we can talk until we are blue in the face. Are our kids listening? Maybe. But I guarantee, what they are learning from is by our actions.
So if you want them to embrace minimalism, lead by example. Let them see you decluttering your things and choosing what to keep and what to donate/throw a way. Let them see how happy and carefree you are when you have less to take care of. I guarantee, they are watching and learning!
2. Involve Them
Involve them in the decluttering process. Depending on their ages, you can have them help put things in boxes to be donated or a garbage bag to throw away. Talk about why you are keeping the things you are and why you are letting the others go.
3) Let Them Have Control
How would you like it if someone came into your house and suddenly started telling you what you could keep and what you had to get rid of? It would probably make you mad, right? So why should be expect anything different from our kids?
Once you’ve led by example and involved them with your things, it’s time to give them a chance to evaluate their own belongings. Kids as young as 3 or 4 can exhibit remarkable discretion in making their own decisions about what to keep and what not to keep.
Here are some conversation starters to help them consider downsizing:
- We have too many books to fit on the bookshelf. Are there any we don’t read anymore?
- Your drawers are so full of clothes, you can’t close them. Are there any that are too small?
- Wow! You have a lot of toys! There’s probably some you don’t play with anymore, huh? I trust your ability to choose your favorites.
4) Downsize With A Purpose
Kids are remarkably compassionate. Rather than asking your child what to keep and what to get rid of, choose something meaningful to do with the items you are not keeping.
Look for another family who can use some help. Some good places to look are Buy Nothing, Freecycle, any local clubs/churches you may be involved in. Donating to your local thrift store is also an option.
When you do this, “getting rid of” now becomes “giving to a family who needs them.” Your child may be more excited when they know they are helping someone else who needs it.
5) Prioritize Experiences Vs. Stuff
If you’ve gotten your child to minimize a few of his belongings, first off, praise him or her! That is a big accomplishment!
Next, explain that since there is less to take care of and less to pick up, you have time to ___________ (fill in the blank). Maybe it’s playing a game together as a family, working on a puzzle, going to the park, or reading a book out loud to them. It doesn’t have to be an expensive, extravagant event. Your kids will appreciate your undivided attention.
So make experiences more of a priority than stuff, and they will naturally gravitate towards minimalism as they grow up.
Ready To Give Minimalism A Chance With Kids?
You’ve learned 5 ways you can get your kids on board with minimalism. So get out there, and give it a shot! You will be glad you did!
-Lee
P.S. If you’re interested in how you can make some money in the decluttering process, be sure to sign up for my FREE 5-Day Reseller Bootcamp!
After decluttering my own home, I now have turned selling discard stuff into a profitable business. I work on my schedule (from home) and make over $30/hour!
If your interested in how you can make money decluttering or how you can turn flipping items into a profitable business, sign up for my FREE 5-Day eCourse called “Reseller Bootcamp!”
In it you will learn:
- The best items to flip for maximum profit. (You will also get the Top 25 All-Time Best Clothing Brands To Flip For Profit).
- Where you can find items to flip and the best places to resell them.
- How to take pictures like a pro without being a professional or having all the professional equipment.
- The 5 key components to every successful listing. (You’ll also get my “Magic Formula For The Perfect Title”).
- How you can make consistent income month in and month out.
Click here to read more about this FREE Course!
