Nonna's Guide To Exploring Simplicity

Nonna's Guide to Exploring Simplicity

3/1/2021

Photo by Benjamin Manley at Unsplash

Simplicity is necessary

Our minds and lives can become cluttered with things and activities and noise quite easily. And clutter creates a sense of overload. Too many choices creates a fatigue of the mind, body and heart.

While minimalism or simple living is a big deal in social media these days, there is also quite a bit of serious research about the benefits of purposefully living with less. Most of the resources are about and for adults, but the UK began a human development study with babies and mothers in 1946 which continued for five generations! In Helen Pearson's The Life Project she writes about the correlations between flourishing, successful children and quality time with their parents -- those quiet moments each day where parents really listen and respond to their children.

What better way to foster those quiet moments than to read to your children everyday? This month's books are selected to elicit and inspire children to talk about the important things in life with you.

Week of March 1st: Things

How do we know when we have enough toys, books, clothes? How do we choose those things which are essential? Or know which things are important for our soul?

These are important questions children can wrestle with even at very young ages.

Last Stop on Market Street
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The Hundred Dresses

Week of March 8th: Self

Young children are often quite aware in seeing other people -- intuitively recognizing our character traits. It's only as we grow up and older that we become less sure about who we are, who others are and the world around us. Reading or listening to books which encourage children to develop a sense of self helps lay a strong foundation for weathering those doubts.

The Little Prince
I Am Enough
Whoever You Are

Week of March 15th: Outside

Selecting just a few books about the world around us is perhaps the most difficult task -- there are so many excellent choices. With only three choices what is the highest priority? Beauty, nature, the arts, science, animals -- the list could go on and on.

One selection is for children who like to explore, one is for animal lovers, and the final one is strictly informational!

Move
Flashlight
Children's First Encyclopedia

Week of March 22nd: Traditions

Rituals and traditions give a consistent, dependable rhythm to our lives -- knowing what to expect is important for children.

As equally important as a sense of predictability is to a child, so is a child's understanding of where they come from. Traditions give a child a sense of heritage, an understanding of her people, and her place in the world.

Wabi Sabi
Suki's Kimono
Alma and How She Got Her Name

Week of March 29th: Helping

I have a friend who posts on Facebook -- just about everyday -- pictures of the simple, but beautiful and useful things in life for which he is grateful. Jack is also one of the few people I've known most of my life who consistently gives to and serves other people. He is one of those helpers talked about in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

My Father's Dragon
The Door in the Wall

It's a big month of reading, but in the spirit of simplicity I encourage you to choose just one book to share with your children. Read a picture book again and again. Or choose one of the novels to read aloud throughout the month. Less is more.