7 Easy Steps to Slow Parenting
Summer is the perfect time to practice slow parenting, surrendering to the soft summer flow, unlearning the pressure of productivity.
Like golden sticky honey that slowly oozes and drops from the spoon in slow motion, feel into the delightful essence of early childhood. The young child may be in constant motion but it is the sweet pace of slowness that best supports their nervous systems, sense of security, and deepens curiosity of their constantly unfolding world. Slow is the natural pace of a young child.
It is a common pitfall to meet our children's busyness with MORE. More activities, more classes, more entertainment, more lessons, more doing until - even we as parents feel over scheduled and frantic, moving quickly from one event to the next, with little pause. Could it be us that fears the stillness and mayhem that might arise if our children do not have "something to do?"
There is a rich, ripe world that awaits children, and us too, when we move less between activities and spend more time enjoying the activity itself. Unstructured time allows children to drop into an experience, be more creative and engaged. New thoughts are developed, problem solving refined and self-awareness fostered. Even boredom, that thing we avoid at all cost, develops greater self-awareness, creativity and critical thinking. (little Einsteins in the making)
Less is More! - let that be your summertime motto as you sink in and explore how slow parenting can benefit your whole family. Let these 7 steps serve as inspiration to set you on your slow parenting path.
7 steps to inspire a slow parenting summer:
1- Take stock! Which days and times of day feel most busy?
2- Write down, by yourself or with your partner, the list of activities for each day and note how many are necessary. Prioritize and eliminate until you are left with only activities you enjoy and are really needed.
3- Consider a rhythm unique to you. Are you most productive in the mornings? Can you structure your day for tasks and chores during the first half of the day, then allow for less pressure, more rest and free time in the afternoon.
4- Complicated dinners! Are they necessary? What simple meals can you make where your children can participate in creating and won't take more than 30 minutes to create.
5-Walk wherever and as much as you can. Long leisurely walks to do errands or the grocery store, even if it means less groceries and more trips to the store can be a great way to enjoy the grocery chore - there is so much to see along the way.
6 - Allow for unstructured time to dream, read, play, explore and be lazy. This is a vital part to the overall balancing act of life.
7- Spend time outside - Not a park with a play structure that keeps you at the monkey bars or actively pushing the swing. No! Set up a blanket, bring your book, sparkly water and chill while they explore and play, maybe even make new friends, explore the wild flowers, observe the bugs, watch the clouds or play the cloud shape game.
Our biggest hurdle as adults can be the willingness to let things go in order to slow down. See if instead of hurrying up to get to the next task, allow, enjoy and find wonder in the present moment.
