Part 8 of 8—Ground Your Helicopter Parenting

LESS IS MORE

Julie raised her kids with a “village” of other families who hung out together all the time.  She noticed that the most well-adjusted young adults, now age 25-30, are those kids whose mothers did the least for them growing up.

Discussion:
There is actually a whole movement that is surging forward to counter overprotective helicoptering.  It goes by several names:  slow parenting, simplicity parenting, free-range parenting.  If you really want your child to become his or her most actualized self—who they were truly meant to be—we parents have to get out of the way.  Imagine that the best gift we could give our kids is to do less for them.  That would give us more time to spend on what matters most: connecting with our kids and, in the process, enjoying our parenting more.

Here are some tips from Kim John Payne, co-author of Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Children:

• Declutter the environment—keep a few toys and books and put the rest away.  Periodically cycle stored toys back through.
• Schedule routines—ideally have one-third downtime, one-third creative time, and one-third busy/scheduled time.
• Encourage boredom—it fosters resourcefulness and creativity in kids
• Have quiet moments—keep adult conversation and problems to yourself.  Young kids less than nine can’t process long conversations and don’t really understand their own emotions enough to explain them.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If I knew then what I know now,
I would have been comfortable with doing less for my kids, knowing that it was actually giving them more.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Helicopter Parenting Resources: