Embracing minimalism and less clutter has been my journey, not the journey of my family.  In fact, prior to embracing a more minimalist lifestyle, I realized my kids may have been (dare I say it)…spoiled.

Let’s take for example the “summer without bubbles.”

I watched in horror one afternoon as my four-year-old daughter gleefully dumped out a gallon of bubbles in the backyard. I asked her what she was doing and explained she now doesn’t have bubbles.  Her response was, “It’s OK mama.  We can buy more bubbles at Target.”  

You can always buy more. That was her mentality, even at four. She didn’t know what it was like to go without. She knew that the big box store was right around the corner, and we can just buy more and more and more.

This wasn’t my child’s fault. It was mine.

Living with less clutter in my home and a simpler lifestyle has helped me realize my kids were not always aware of all their blessings. Teaching my kids the basic principles of a more minimalist way of living has taught them gratitude, how to be more responsible with their spending, and helped them avoid common marketing pitfalls.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Teaching Minimalism to Kids

I have learned some powerful lessons when teaching minimalism to kids.  Here are my tips for teaching your kids about minimalism (based on my own successes and failures):

1 – Lead by example

Before you push your family into minimalism, you have to first be a good example of what it looks like to live simply. 

Declutter YOUR bedroom. Clean out your closet.

Have your kids go with you to take the items to a local charity or Goodwill drop-off center.  Teaching minimalism to kids is easier when they know what the process looks like without it impacting their own belongings.

2 – Practice gratefulness when teaching minimalism to kids

We have friends with entire basements and multiple playrooms full of toys. 

Toys litter the floors, and it looks like an open box toy store.  My kids did not have friends with less.  They had friends with more, so much more.

Help your children understand how lucky they are to have so many toys and essential needs.  

Make friends with families who have less than you.  If that’s not possible, volunteer through your church or local charities.  (I lived in a rich suburban bubble once, I get it.)

Help your kids see their fortune.  Maybe sign up for a toy drive, and have your children actively participate in the process.

3 – Involve children in the decluttering process

Decluttering a child’s room is easy to do when they are at school or when they are sleeping.  I know.  I have utilized this method. 

Don’t get me wrong, sneaky minimalism works with kids.  However, you are not teaching minimalism to kids when you are giving away their cherished belongings (often plastic junk) in secret.

Explain to your children, in terms appropriate for their age, why you are embracing minimalism. 

Examples may be “We have too much stuff for mommy and you guys to clean up every day.”  Or, “We are very lucky to have so much stuff, so now we are going to share it with other children who don’t have toys.” 

I have also explained we are going to start saving more money, which means we will be buying fewer things.  This money saved will help us take more family vacations or participate in more family experiences.  I then remind them of such experiences.

4 – Create storage areas for certain types of items

Getting the toy clutter under control will help so much when teaching your kids about minimalism. 

We have multiple storage containers and baskets for specific items for my kids.  When these storage containers get full, the kids get to choose what they keep and what they give away or toss.

The whole idea behind minimalism is to buy LESS stuff.  However, it is inevitable they will bring home cherished plastic items (junk) from a birthday party or school event.  That is fine.  It just has to fit in the storage container for that type of item. 

I try not to dictate what they can or cannot keep, seeing as how I may not fully appreciate a treasure they adore.

We have a Rubbermaid container in each child’s closet for stuffed animals.  They are not pretty, but they are well hidden and hold a decent amount of “stuffies”. 

Once the containers are overflowing, it is time to declutter those bad boys.  I don’t know how we accumulated so many stuffed animals and dolls.  I think I’ve only bought a handful in their entire lives.  It is amazing how they reproduce and multiply!

When searching for storage container ideas, I love shelves with storage cubbies.  They hold a ton of toys, each grouped by type.  They also double as a bench or shelf for books.

5 – Enlist the help of relatives

Talk with relatives about your family’s desire to declutter.  Start the conversation early, before birthdays and holidays. 

Communicate anything the child may need.  Remember your family enjoys the act of giving gifts, and decluttering is your journey.  Just make sure every item has a place in your child’s room.  Your kids may surprise you and make space themselves.

Related post: Experience gifts 

6 – Cut out TV marketing

If you need another excuse to cut the cord with cable and satellite providers, this is a good one. 

Billions of dollars are spent on marketing to children every year because it works.  Children see advertisements, and then they want more.  It is part of our culture. 

You don’t have to cut out TV altogether, but if you switch to paid providers like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, you can cut out commercials directed at children.  (However, cutting out tv with your kids helps too.)

7 – More experiences and less stuff

We retain memories of camping trips, vacations, and memberships to the local museum or zoo.  We don’t remember the gifts we got for our birthdays, at least not most years. 

Give your children the gift of memories.  You can often do this without spending much money too.  Go on a camping trip, plan a vacation, or visit a local attraction instead of buying more toys.

For birthdays, we plan a family experience instead of a birthday party, every other year.  For one, it helps reduce the number of physical gifts coming into our home.  It also provides an opportunity for the family to do something extra special together.  The kids get to plan the entire day.  They choose our meals, our activities, and they do no chores.

Since we buy less stuff for our home, we travel more as a family.  My five-year-old is obsessed with San Diego after visiting it for the first time.   She is convinced she is going to live there one day, and I can guarantee you she remembers that trip more than any Christmas gift.

8 – Talk about your desired lifestyle regularly

Talk about your lifestyle in your regular conversations when teaching minimalism to kids.  

Don’t wait until you are cleaning out their room to first mention it.   Explain how you live differently from others. Focus on the positive side of living clutter-free and how less stuff can make you happier.  Point out the positives when they are happening.

For example, when you are on vacation, talk about how that vacation was possible because you saved your money by not buying more stuff.  Or, point out how much space they have in their rooms to play since you made room by getting rid of toys they no longer enjoy. 

You can also talk about the children who benefited from their toys once they were donated.  It is such a cool experience to watch your children give with their whole hearts.

9 –  Remember teaching minimalism to kids is a journey

Most importantly, remember teaching minimalism to kids is a journey.  It is not a result you will see overnight. 

Sure, you can go into their rooms and completely clear them out while they are at school one day.  However, they will only resent you. 

Teach them the gratefulness that comes from having so much and choosing to have less, and teach them the power of giving.  Help them see the value of experiences over more things.  Give them memories.

It is also ok to still give your child things.  Here is a list of great minimalist gift ideas for kids.

Enjoy the journey

For our family, the journey to living without clutter is ongoing. 

We are all at different points in our journey.  My kids’ rooms still have stick and rock collections.  They have jewelry boxes filled to the brim with plastic pieces and prizes won.  These items bring my children joy.

Continue to work on bringing fewer things into your home and spending less of your money on items that have no purpose. 

Focus your time and efforts on each other.  Go hiking.  Take vacations to new cities, and eat good food.  That is a clutter-free life. Eventually, your kids will learn minimalism without even realizing it!

Save this to Pinterest for later!

9 Easy Ways to Get Your Kids Interested in a More Minimalist LifestyleRead More

Is there a right way to practice minimalism with kids? What are the benefits of being a minimalist family?  

You’ve probably seen the extreme tv shows and blogs, and you may have even thought to yourself, there is no way we could be a minimalist family.  I hear you, as I was there too. 

I then learned that minimalism doesn’t have rules!

Minimalism does have benefits, and most families who practice minimalism with kids, see the benefits of being a minimalist family.

Minimalism doesn’t have rules

I consider ourselves to be a minimalist family. However, there are no rules to what a minimalist family looks like.

Some die-hard minimalists may look at our home and think I’m crazy to even claim a stake in minimalism. Our kids have more than ten toys, and our home has more than 100 items in it.

We also have a comfortably-sized home.  I still like to state we practice minimalism.  Why?

Define minimalism

The Merriam-Webster defines minimalism as “a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity”. 

Compared to some minimalist families, we are not in the category of “extreme spareness and simplicity”.

Yet, compared to our society obsessed with consumerism, excess things, and large homes, I would call us “extreme”. 

You can find moderation in minimalism, and you can live a life with less.  You do not have to follow a style of minimalism with rigorous rules and counting of items. 

You also don’t have to invest in gallons of white paint!!

Related Post: Minimalism for Normal People

Determine your priorities as a minimalist family

Part of becoming a minimalist family is to discuss and determine your priorities. 

Where do you want your money to go? What do you want your memories to look like?

Do you want a big house and a big career at the expense of other things? Are you trying to keep up with the Joneses?

What trade-offs are you willing to make in order to experience changes?

Communicate with your family

If you are considering the benefits of minimalism and are ready to achieve a clutter-free home and a clutter-free life, don’t just start throwing out stuff you now see as excess.  (I tried this.  It didn’t go so well.) 

First, set an example by decluttering your own things. 

Then, talk to your family about how you are feeling overwhelmed and how you would like to try something new. 

Point out the positives, and start talking to your kids about minimalism before you really even do anything.

Related Posts:

Declutter by Ditching The Dumping Ground,

Declutter Fast THIS Weekend,

The Ultimate Guide to Declutter Your Bedroom

The benefits of being a minimalist family:

You stress less

When you work to become a minimalist family, you learn to live with less in your home and less in your life. 

By doing so, you have fewer things in your home to clean-up, and you have less clutter in your schedule that takes away from the more important things in your life. 

Living with less gives you back the most important thing in the world, time!  Living with less stuff can also make you happier.

I started to practice minimalism because I was about to have a nervous breakdown. 

We were always working for more, so that drove me to want to keep moving up in my career and to make more money.  I was stressing out over the smallest things, and the mess in the house made me feel overwhelmed and behind all the time.

Then, I made a New Year’s Resolution to start simplifying every aspect of my life. 

It didn’t matter if that was assignments at work, decluttering my bedroom or decluttering my closet.  I was going to find a simpler way to do everything.  In doing this, my stress and anxiety diminished insanely fast.  

I started to focus on the things in life that really brought me joy, and so can YOU.

Related Posts:

Declutter To Drastically Reduce Your Stress and Anxiety

21 Super Fast Decluttering Tasks

Decluttering Tips for the Messy at Heart

You save money

One of the fun benefits of minimalism is that when you stop spending money, you start saving a lot more money.  You have more money for family vacations and more money for emergencies. 

It also opens up doors for more opportunities that will possibly allow you to quit your job, if you are not happy and quitting is something you wish to pursue.

Related Post: 10 Ways Minimalism Can Save You Money This Year

You spend more time together as a family

One of the benefits of minimalism is more time. 

You can spend more time with your loved ones and spend more time doing the things that make you happy.  With minimalism, you are no longer a slave to obligations. 

By convincing your loved ones to embrace the principles of a minimalist family, you help prevent them from experiencing the stress and overwhelm that comes from excess.

You remove toy clutter

Minimalism means your kids have less stuff too. 

Again, minimalism does not have to have rules.  You don’t have to get rid of all but ten of your toys.  You can, but that is not necessary. 

They can still have a room full of toys, just toys they love!  Get rid of the clutter in your kid’s room and get rid of the stuff that adds no value or joy.

There are many benefits to your kids having fewer toys.  They go outside more, use their imaginations more, and they too have less stuff to clean up. 

It is a win-win for everyone!

Related Post: Get Rid of Toys (With the Help of Your Kids!)

You get to start doing what you love

When you are a minimalist family, you stop doing the things you think you SHOULD be doing based on what everyone else is doing.  Instead, you spend time doing the things you love. 

By practicing minimalism, you are not just getting rid of the things in your home.  You are getting rid of the excess clutter in your schedules and in your life. 

You stop doing the things that don’t matter anymore and make room for the things you love to do.  This makes for a happier family!

Related Posts:

Experience Gifts For Everyone on Your List,

15 Epic Minimalist Toys for Kids

You are doing more for the environment

When you are buying fewer things, you are stopping the constant flow of junk into your home. 

You are no longer collecting plastic toys that are played with once, and you are no longer buying clothes that will end up in an excess donation center one day. 

You are only buying what you need, and you are consuming it, rather than contributing to increasing pollution. You also find other ways to stop buying things, like investing in reusable kitchen items!

You get to enjoy a clutter-free home

Another one of the benefits of minimalism is you have less stuff in your home. 

A clutter-free home makes you enjoy being in it and makes you proud to show it to other people. 

You don’t have to be an interior decorator.  When you have less stuff, your interior decorating skills are automatically increased!  

You are also company ready anytime someone shows up with little notice!

Related Posts:

6 Simple Steps to Declutter Your Kitchen

3 Secrets You Need to Know to Declutter Your Home

10 Newbie Decluttering Mistakes You Should Avoid

Becoming a minimalist family is possible!

Becoming a minimalist family is not as impossible as some make it seem.  There are also many benefits to being a minimalist family!  

Ultimately, you get more time and more joy with your family.  You feel healthier, and your home feels more welcoming and a whole lot less chaotic. 

Try it out!  You may just find being a minimalist family isn’t so difficult.

If you want to get a headstart on your minimalist family’s journey, check out the Happy Clutter-Free Home Series, which consists of 7 days of challenges you can do to see immediate changes in your home.

Related Posts:

11 Simple Tasks to Ease Into Decluttering

The Best Strategies For Getting Rid of Your Stuff After Decluttering

Use It or Lose It: A Brilliantly Simple Decluttering Rule

11 Rules for Decluttering so You Don’t Lose Your Sanity

Minimalism May be the Secret Ingredient Your Family NEEDSRead More

It’s birthday month in our house.  We celebrate both my kids’ birthdays this month, so gift giving is at the front of my mind.  

How much should I spend on birthday gifts for my children?

Will a simple birthday gift be enough?

Should we have a big elaborate party?

It’s all about the kiddos…not spending

Birthdays are treated like holidays in our house.  They are super special, and it’s my ultimate goal to make whoever is being celebrated to feel like the most important person ever!

Even with all this excitement, birthdays are NOT about going over the top spending money and going into debt just to make the day seem special.

However you prefer to celebrate your children, know this…  They won’t remember how much you spent making their day special.  They remember how they felt. 

Remember your birthdays from growing up. 

I remember simple cakes (some homemade, some store-bought).  I remember my friends playing games with me, family coming over, and getting to choose dinner that night. Mostly, I remember how my family made me feel.

You don’t have to spend a whole bunch of money to make the day special. 

It’s about the thoughtfulness behind the gift, not the cost

Last year we bought our daughter a simple toy that was on the clearance rack at Target for $6.  We spent six dollars!! One year later, she still plays with this toy.  I call that a win. 

We weren’t being cheap.  Not at all.  We were looking for the perfect toy, and there it was on the end cap with all the other marked down toys.  We both saw it and laughed at our good fortune. 

It would have been easy to keep spending, knowing we got off so cheap, but there was no reason to.  We were in search for the perfect gift, and we found it.  Finding the perfect gift isn’t about the cost. 

If funds are low or if you think your children are acting a bit spoiled (been there, no judgment), remember, the cost doesn’t matter.  Put some thought into your gift, rather than stressing about the amount of money you are spending.  

Create traditions

If you want to simplify your child’s birthday, consider creating traditions.  This is a fantastic way to encourage memories around the day that are not focused on the actual gift giving. 

Here are some ideas for birthday traditions:

• Hang streamers from your child’s door so they can walk through them when they wake up in the morning.
• Blow up the number of balloons that match your child’s age.
• Decorate your child’s kitchen table chair.
• Make your child’s favorite cake from scratch (a box cake totally counts).
• Let your child choose dinner, whether at a local restaurant or their favorite home-cooked meal.
• Your child can be “boss for the day”
• Let your child skip chores all day on their birthday.
• Make a special breakfast every year…like birthday sprinkle pancakes!
• Make breakfast in bed.
• Take turns telling the birthday person what you love about them.
• Eat cake for breakfast.
• Use the same decorations every year.  This inspires tradition and favorite memories. (It also saves a ton of money!)

Consider skipping the birthday party

Before you roll your eyes, hear me out!

My kids love having birthday parties. They get gifts, get to hang out with their friends, and they get to feel special with a group of people, not just with their family. 

We love birthday parties, and we’ve had plenty over the years. 

However, every single year, we offer our children a second choice.  They can choose between having a birthday party or an experience.  We then take any money we would have spent on the party, and we spoil our children rotten with a fun experience day. 

Our kids almost always choose the party option, but a few times, the experience has won out!

Here are some ideas for a birthday experience day:

• A hotel night with a pool and pizza delivery
• Beach day, ice cream included with all the toppings!!
• Ski day, including hot chocolate and marshmallows
• Amusement park / water park
• Roller skating / ice skating
• Movie date
• Camping trip
• Trampoline park
• Playground day, picnic, and lots of sugar!
• Anything your child LOVES to do

Simplify birthday parties

If your child wants a birthday party, consider this your free pass to not be Pinterest perfect. 

I too have fallen victim to wanting to go over the top with all my birthday planning. 

There are themed parties, appetizers, designer cakes, and games you design and build to match everything.  There are also matching plates, color-coordinated napkins, and hired help. 

If you have a Pinterest perfect party, you can easily drop hundreds of dollars. 

Please, even if you have the money to go over the top, don’t do this to yourself.  Your child does not care.

I’ve had parties like this.  They were amazing…for the adults.  None of the children present cared. 

They wanted cake, and they wanted to play.  They could have cared less about all the activities I had planned and if my plates matched the cake which matched the activities. 

If you want to decorate, go simple.  A couple of streamers and balloons will be more than enough to make your child feel special.  Buy some solid-colored plates and napkins, and you can use them for other events too. 

Skip the treat bags.  Gasp, I know!

If you feel absolutely compelled to use treat bags, go with consumables rather than plastic junk no mom wants to take back to her house. 

Related Post: Our Fiver Birthday Party Fail

Related Post: Perfect Mom? Or Perfect Pinterest Fail Mom?

Simple birthday gifts for kids

You know your kid, and you know what they love. Remember, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to make them happy.  A single, simple gift, can make them happy!

Start simple gifts when they are young, and they won’t come to expect a second Christmas when they are older.  It will also help them continue the tradition of simple gifts with their future children. 

Here are some ideas for simple birthday gifts for kids that don’t add to clutter and excess:

Experiences

Experiences create memories.  Memories last way longer than any cheap, plastic gift.

When children are younger, I recommend giving a child a small token related to the experience, and then the experience gift.  The reason being children don’t always understand delayed gratification that comes from giving an experience gift. 

For example, if you are giving a child a gift certificate to go enjoy an ice cream visit, you may give them a gift bag full of sprinkles, chocolate syrup, and candy toppings that they can enjoy on their birthday too!

Then, when the time comes to go enjoy the ice cream experience, they can enjoy the gratification of a thoughtful gift all over again!

There are tons of experience gift ideas you can give to anyone on your list!

Here is a list of my favorite experience gifts:

• Movie tickets
• Ice cream shop visit
• Amusement park
• Water park
• Hiking
• Camping
• Roller skating / ice skating
• Pro game
• Concert
• Theater tickets
• Classes – online or in person
• Any kid-focused local business – Trampoline parks, activity centers, etc.
• Self-made art – Cloth and Glaze, Paint Your Own Pottery, Glaze Fire, etc.

Related post: Experience Gifts for Everyone on Your List

Gifts that spark imagination

Children don’t need toys that do the playing for them.  Instead, think of gifts that encourage imagination and play.  Even as children grow older, you can still search for gifts that inspire creativity. 

Here are a few gift ideas that inspire creativity and imagination:

• Dress-up clothes
• Legos
• Puzzles
• Books
• Craft kits
• Journal / diary / sketchbook
• Camera (that’s not part of a phone)
• Board games
• Sewing machine
• Tools for building
• Pottery kits
• Cooking supplies that are kid-centered
• Musical instrument
• Karaoke machine
• Nature journal

Books

Books are one of those gifts you can give that are simple and people never outgrow receiving.

If you are looking to gift your child a simple birthday gift, consider a special book series for the level of reading they are currently enjoying.  I love book series, as it allows you to give a whole set of books that they can enjoy for the next few weeks!

You can also sign up your child for an online children’s book club if they are really into reading books.  It would be a fun way for them to connect with other children who have similar interests. 

Gifts that encourage physical activity and outdoor time

If you want to simplify birthdays for your children, a great gift idea is to focus on gifts that encourage physical activity or outdoor time, rather than add to the clutter and excess inside of your home. 

Some of my favorite gifts that encourage physical activity and/or outdoor time are:

• Any type of ball
• Playground equipment
• Outdoor games
• Bicycles and related gear
• Sidewalk chalk
• Skateboard
• Lessons in favorite sport
• Yard games – Ladder ball, cornhole
• Slack line
• Zip line
• Jump rope
• Scooter
• Roller skates
• Hula hoop
• Pogo stick
• Mud kitchen

Gifts that encourage playing together

Children LOVE it when their parents play with them. 

Think about what your child enjoys and about what you enjoy doing with them.  These are the best kinds of gifts and may encourage play between you for months or years to come. 

Gift ideas you can enjoy with your child include:

• Sporting equipment
• Board games
• Card games
• Puzzles
• Read aloud books (yes, big, long books too!) or audio books
• Video games
• Crafting supplies
• Model cars, airplanes, boats, etc.
• Build a robot
• Children’s cookbook and supplies
• Movies to watch together

Related Post: 51+ Best Non-Toy Gifts for Kids

If your child is super into video games, consider getting them a game they’re begging for, but maybe also pick up a game that interests you.  I know.  Hear me out. 

My mom played Dr. Mario and Bubble Bobble with me as a child on our old-school Nintendo.  I was good at and loved other games, but these two were my favorite. 

I think now, they were my favorite because my mom played them with me…on a regular basis. 

Although I limit video games with my kids, one of my favorite things to do is play with them when the chance is given. 

Get creative.  Think of ideas you would both enjoy, and then actually plan a date to enjoy them together!

Related Post: 15 Epic Minimalist Gifts for Kids

Make your child’s birthday simple but magical

Birthdays with your kids can be simple.  They don’t have to be super planned out, expensive, and over the top.  A simple birthday day combined with a simple gift is all a child needs to feel incredibly special on his or her big day. 

A Simple but Special Birthday for Your ChildRead More

Are you worried your kids or family members require too many Christmas presents?

I absolutely love the memories I have of Christmas!

Christmas was always such an amazing time of year as a child. 

I remember the excitement of waking up our parents to go see what Santa brought us, ripping open the wrapping paper, and opening our stockings to our heart’s content. 

As with most kids, Christmas was my absolute favorite time of year.  It was magical. 

My absolute favorite memory was my dad putting a bale of hay on the roof one year and waking up to see that Rudolph and his crew really did eat it!!! I mean, how cool is that?!

Christmas gifts don’t make the memories

You know what I don’t remember about Christmas?

Each and every gift I ever received, whether there were too many Christmas presents or not enough.  

Do I remember a few? Sure. 

However, it was the magic, the feeling of giving (and receiving) and the family gatherings.  Those are the memories that are stuck in my head and still make me absolutely love that time of year, even as an adult.

What my parents hid well from me was the stress of Christmas.  You see, we were not wealthy.  In fact, I’m sure some years it was a miracle Santa made it to our house.   

My parents never let on though, even when we were older and wiser about how money and Christmas worked.

Too many Christmas presents?

Do your children get too many Christmas presents?

How many gifts do our kids really need for Christmas?

Are we bad parents if we give them too much?

What about too little?

Honestly, I don’t know the right answer, but I do know I was probably spoiling our children unnecessarily in years past. 

Living a simpler, more minimalistic life has made Christmas a little easier and a little less stressful.  It certainly isn’t as expensive!

Should you get your kids only 4 items for Christmas?

You’ve seen the Pinterest posts and social media shares.  Parents everywhere are giving their kids four items this Christmas:

1. Something they need,
2. Something they want,
3. Something to wear, and
4. Something to read.

While I really love the concept behind getting my kids only four items for Christmas, I admittedly struggle with this one. 

Why?

I know I really want to avoid the excess of Christmases past!

I think I struggle with the four gifts rule because we live super minimalistic lives all year long.

I buy my kids toys twice a year.  They get presents at Christmas and then again on their birthdays.  That is it.  There are no summer gifts, good behavior gifts, gifts for big accomplishments.  

Is it so bad they get two or three toys they really want at Christmas? I don’t think so, not when you have so much other balance the entire rest of the year.   

Find your own balance

That’s just it though.  You need balance. 

Don’t go buying your kids half of the toy section and every circled item in the toy catalog if you also shower them with gifts throughout the year. 

Even if you restrict your kids’ new toys throughout the year, you probably still don’t have to get them everything on the list.  You see, kids will circle a billion and one things, but what they really love is the magic of Christmas.

I think my kids are just as excited about driving around the neighborhood every night leading up to Christmas to look at the Christmas lights as they are for actual Christmas morning. 

My kids also love candy canes dipped in hot chocolate, and they squeal with delight if I announce we are making cookies all day for teachers, neighbors, and friends.  That is the magic of Christmas!

Related post: A Fun and Memorable Christmas Traditions Bucket List

Give something homemade

I remember being a teenager and my parents going through a particularly tough time, financially and in their relationship. 

My dad built us a desk.  It was all he could afford that year. 

I probably don’t have all the facts straight about what happened behind the scenes, but I do know one thing.  He made me something with his two hands, and I LOVED it! I loved that he took his time to make me something, as that was something he could give easily, even when money was tight.

Make something for your kids this holiday season as one of your gifts.  You don’t have to be a great seamstress or woodworker to make something wonderful. 

There are so many ideas out there.  Check out these simple homemade gifts you can make for kids.  Some of them are very easy to make.

My kids’ favorite gift they received this entire year? Babydoll blankets. 

My grandmother made them for their baby dolls from scraps her church was throwing away.  She hated to see the waste, so she made something small.  Y’all, my daughters have owned these blankets for over three months now, and they still sleep with them every single night. 

If you have young children, you know very few gifts make the cut every single night for months on end.  These were gifts made from scraps but made with LOVE!

Practice giving with your kids

You don’t have to be the only crafty one this holiday season to make it a little more special.  Get your kids involved too. 

Have your kids make something for a friend or a sibling.  Teach them the pride that goes with making something with their own two hands, out of love, for someone they know will appreciate it.

Volunteer with your kids

You can also involve your children in giving to those in need. 

I have lived through the times of writing a check to my favorite charity around the holidays.  While this is still nice to do, take action as well. 

If you can’t write a check, taking action is the best thing you can do.  Volunteer at a favorite charity.  See if you can bring the kids along with you.  Go visit a nursing home or a Children’s Hospital.  Get creative!

You can also shop for a family in need and have your kids help pick out the gifts. 

My kids love shopping for other kids, knowing they are giving them a more magical Christmas.  

When you involve kids in the process of giving back at Christmas, you can remind them how fortunate they are to receive what we would consider too many Christmas presents.

Celebrate with experiences

If you feel like you give your kids too many Christmas presents, start shifting the focus from gifts to experiences. 

Talk to your kids about this shift as well, especially if they are older and notice things are changing around your home and lives. 

Talking to your kids about living with less is very important.  There are also many benefits for families that practice minimalism.  

Even if you are not a minimalist, you can still practice a holiday season with less stuff. 

You can give thoughtful experiences or go ahead and experience them with your family.  It doesn’t have to be all about receiving. 

Make your focus on the season instead. 

We all say that’s what we want, but admit it, it is really easy to get caught up in who is getting what gift and finishing up all your Christmas shopping!

Don’t let too many Christmas presents define your Christmas

If you think you are faced with buying too many Christmas presents, stop and rethink how you want your Christmas season to look for you and your family. 

Do you really need to buy gifts for all those people on your list? Would a simple card and hug work?

Do your kids really need every toy they circled in the magazine or the latest and greatest tech device? Most likely, no.

I know what it is like to want to give to everyone on your list exactly what they wanted.  It is hard when you first transition to a simpler lifestyle.

Sometimes the expectations of your family and those around you are used to Christmases of the past, full of excess and way too many Christmas presents. 

Don’t let that deter you.  Choose the Christmas you want.  Don’t let your past define your Christmas now.

Related post: How to Control Holiday Clutter

Save to Pinterest for later:  

Too Many Christmas Presents? Do Christmas Without Going Overboard!Read More

As mothers, we are often questioning ourselves on how to raise a happy kid.

• Is my kid happy?
• Does my child have everything they need?
• Do I give them enough?
• Am I home enough?
• Am I present enough?
• Do they have a big enough house or enough toys?
• Am I failing to provide them with everything they need to have a happy childhood?

These are questions I battled with often, especially in years past.  There are so many resources out there that make me feel like I am not enough. 

Well, let me tell you, mama. You are enough.  You are exactly the mom your child needs. 

After a lot of reflection and a lot of experimenting, I discovered my kids did not need all the things I thought they needed to be a happy kid.  In fact, a lot of what they needed to be happy was the complete opposite of what I was providing.

How to raise a happy child:

Give them basic necessities

This may be a “well duh” statement, but I’ll put it out there anyway.  Kids need basic necessities.  They need clothes, food, and shelter.  Most of us get this one.

Kids need sleep

Kids need sleep. 

I was the pushover mom that would let my kids stay up late to finish a movie or to read just one more book.  While this practice is ok some days, more than anything, kids need their sleep to be happy. 

Children need time to let their brains rest and grow.  They need to get the required amount of sleep for their age.

I know, this can be a struggle some days. 

I have one child that practically puts herself to bed every night.  The other one though….she is my night owl.  Every night is a battle, so we have to incorporate enough time for that battle. 

I have found if I start the bedtime routine early and have her in the bed about 15 minutes before her actual bedtime, she almost always goes to sleep faster.  I’m not sure why it works, but it does.

Kids need discipline and routine 

To raise a happy kid, they need discipline and a routine. 

Kids turn to their parents for all the answers because the world can be scary and uncertain. 

We are their certainty.  We are what holds them steady.  Help them realize how the world works by showing consequences for actions and give them a routine that provides them stability in knowing what the next day will bring.

Kids need a chance to create

Kids need a chance to practice creativity. 

Every child is different, but give them outlets to practice their creativity.  Turn off the tv.  Take away the toys that play for them.  Let their imaginations run wild for a bit.  Let them be bored.

• Break out the paint, the crayons, or a cardboard box and some markers. 
• Build a fort with couch cushions and blankets. 
• Play dress up. 

Kids are amazing when they don’t have technology doing the imagining for them!

Kids need time in nature

Breathing fresh air can make anyone happy, it can especially make for a happy kid. 

I always know when my kids are at each other’s throats that there is no better medicine for their own minds and their relationship with each other than to send them outside to play. 

Get your kids outside. 

It doesn’t matter if you live in an apartment building in a bustling city or if you live where it snows half the year.  Find a place where they can go and dress them for all-weather, but get them outside!

I have a friend that told me a Finnish saying, “There is no bad weather, just bad clothes.”  Don’t let the weather stop your kids from getting outside. 

Nature has a beautiful way of making us happy.

Activities you can do with your child outside can be:

• playing tag
• taking a hike
• sidewalk chalk
• bike riding
• playing ball
• reading under a tree
• sledding or a snowball fight
• planting and tending to a garden

The possibilities are endless!

Related post: Mom, I’m bored checklist!

Kids need physical exercise

If you want to learn how to raise a happy kid, give them a chance to get up and move. 

Kids do not need video games.  There, I said it. 

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I love a fun family night playing Xbox Kinect Dance Party, but my kids don’t NEED this.  They need a chance to run, ride bikes, or do whatever physical activity brings them joy.

You can be their best example by getting regular physical exercise too.  Take a family walk after dinner.  Talk and enjoy each other while doing it.  Put your devices down and move your bodies!

Related post: Workout Ideas for Busy Moms

Kids need independence

Kids need a chance to be independent!

Thank goodness for my husband who forces me to stop being a border-line helicopter mom.  He encourages me to step back, and let them fall off their bikes.  My husband tells me not to fret when we are hiking and the rocks we are climbing over are really large.  He lets my kids be strong, independent kids, and I love that he has instilled that in me so that I too can watch their sense of independence and confidence soar. 

Raise a confident and happy kid by letting them be independent in their choices and activities.

A child needs to be challenged

A happy kid needs a chance to learn and grow.  They need life skills, and the best way for them to get these life skills is to challenge them. 

Every time we push our kids to do something outside of their comfort level, they surprise us.  Sure, there is some whining along the way, but by teaching them perseverance and tenacity, we are teaching them how to fail and keep going.

We recently when on a hike with my 5 and 6 year-olds.  We didn’t know how long the hike would be exactly, but after looking at a map, we guessed maybe three miles.  It was five miles….straight up a hill in the Rocky Mountains. 

In fact, the entire last mile was incredibly steep and made me more than a little tired.  My kids were tired.  They were frustrated, and they were ready to give up.  We almost let them, but something told us we were very near the summit. 

Just as my six-year-old was expressing that she had enough, we saw the summit.  They both picked up their pace, scaled a giant rockface, and stood at 10,500 feet with the biggest, proudest grins on their face!

Push your kids.  The feeling they get after accomplishing a challenge is amazing to watch!!!

Children need love and physical reassurance 

Give your kids love.  Hug them often.  Kiss them often. 

Even on the worst of days when you are in tears and think you have failed as a mom, give your babies the love they need. 

There is something so wonderful about snuggling your child and slowing down to enjoy the moment.  We live in a rushed world.  Take the time every day to love and give that physical reassurance.  It will do you both well!

Kids need present parents

Be a present parent. 

Being a present parent is hard to do some days.  I get it. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been reading something on my smartphone and then getting aggravated at the “mama, mama, mama” chant coming from my child. 

Be present.  Your work can wait until they are occupied or asleep.  Your social media feed isn’t more important than the time spent with them.  It’s easier to say than do, I know. 

I’m trying all the time to practice being more present.  I even had to take a smartphone detox more than once in my time as a parent so far.

Challenge yourself.  Pick one night a week where your phone is stored in another room and play a game together or watch a movie together.  Read a book out loud every night before bed. 

Do something with your kids without the distractions.  It will bring you as much joy as it brings your child.

Learning how to raise a happy kid seems pretty basic.  They need basic necessities, love, and time with their parents. 

Kids need a chance to grow, create and be challenged.  However, there are so many things we parents strive to give our children that they really don’t need to be a  happy kid.

Things your kids don’t need to be a happy child:

Excessive extracurricular activities

Sure, challenge your kids.  Get them involved in physical activities through sports.  However, do this with intention. 

Your kids don’t need extracurricular activities nearly every day of the week.  They don’t need to spend their entire weekends off from school getting transported from one activity to another.

Your kids need time to be kids. 

They need time to run around with their friends in the backyard or time with their parents to eat dinner and talk about their day. 

Kids need time for encouragement and connection.  They don’t need five nights a week practicing ball and then spending an entire Saturday on a field.  They need you.

Kids don’t need more toys

This one got me. 

I grew up with my parents counting every penny.  When I had my own children and was making a fairly good income, I figured I had to shower my kids with every toy they wanted or “needed”. 

My kids did not know what it was to go without.  We didn’t buy them a toy every time we went to Target.  In fact, I don’t think they even knew where the Target toy aisle was located for many years.

Yet, every Christmas and every birthday, my children were covered up in new toys.  The number of toys they received was over the top, and I was unapologetic about it. 

As I started to practice living a simpler life and dipping my toes into the concept of minimalism, I learned my children did not need more toys to be happy kids.  In fact, more than anything, they needed the space and the time to enjoy the toys they truly enjoyed.

They were overwhelmed by the mess of a cluttered home as much as me, and cleaning up brought them to tears because they had no idea how to clean up so much stuff. 

It is ok to give your kids less.  Hear me again, it is ok.  You will still be raising a happy kid.

Ask your kids how they want to spend their day. 

My guess, at least if they are young, it will not involve playing with their toys.  It will be asking you to play something with them.  In the end, they want you.

Your kids don’t need excess clothes

Your kids need clothes.  They don’t need that many clothes. 

Before we transitioned to living a simpler life, my kids had enough clothes to not repeat an outfit in an entire month!

Funny thing though, they wore the same clothes week after week.  Kids like consistency.  They don’t need fancy clothes.  They need clothes that move with them and let them play.

Kids don’t need a big house

I used to think my family needed a big house.  We needed each child to have their own room, a playroom, and a big backyard.  While we had those things at different times in their childhood, we also lived in places where we didn’t have them. 

For nearly a year, my family of four lived in an 800 square foot apartment, with a dog and a cat. 

We had no official yard, but that time in the apartment forced us to realize something. My kids could share a room, and they loved it!

We probably spent more time outside than ever because we needed the space.  One of our favorite activities was to take daily walks around the neighborhood. 

We also enjoyed the apartment complex pool, and we learned to enjoy the toys that fit in our space without missing the ones we had before we moved.

You don’t need a bigger house to raise a happy kid.

Kids don’t need a fancy school 

Oh, the guilt I felt when I toured a school once, fell in love with it, and then realized after crunching the numbers over and over and over again that there was no way we could ever afford it. 

This school had all the glitter and shine of a well-funded, well-educated school.  There were daily swimming lessons.  Four-year-olds were reading full sentences unassisted.  It was magical!

My kids eventually went to that school, but they only went for one summer so they could capitalize on the daily swimming lessons before starting kindergarten. 

We made the tuition work for a couple of months before transitioning full time from daycare/preschool to public school. 

Let me tell you, there was no reason for me to feel guilty for not being able to send them there earlier. 

Was the school amazing? Yes! However, were my children any less well off because they didn’t get to spend years there? No!

I spent time with my daughter reading every night.  I was diligent about it.  She was reading at four years old.

I also spent time teaching them how to swim every weekend when I was off from work.  They were swimming before starting kindergarten. 

My kids didn’t need a fancy school.  They needed me.   I am their best teacher.

Kids don’t need more technology 

You do not have to give your child endless technology in order to raise a happy kid. 

Video games, smartphones, tablets, and talking toys are all amazing in what they can do.  Some can even be argued as educational. 

The more time our kids spend on technology, the less likely they will spend moving their bodies, making social connections with their friends, or broadening their creativity. 

Encourage your kids to put the electronics away! Push them to go outside.  Push them to create.

Raise a happy kid, not a well-funded kid

In learning how to raise a happy kid, I realized they do not need all the “fancy” stuff out there we put pressure on ourselves to provide them. 

Children need us, their parents.  They need love, basic needs and a chance to grow mentally and physically. 

Don’t put pressure on yourself to be the “Pinterest perfect mom”.  Just be their mom.

Give your kids a chance to have a childhood that isn’t dependent on electronics and excess things.  Let them live simply.

Related posts:

• Why Your Kids Need Less Toys!
• The Benefits of Minimalism for Moms
• 9 Easy Tips to Teach Your Children About Minimalism

How to Raise a Happy Kid, Not a Well-Funded KidRead More