Work, school, kindergarten and household chores ... We live in a rush every day and that's it affects our relationships with loved ones. We suffer from a lack of time, we are constantly on the move. After school or kindergarten, our children participate in an infinite number of extracurricular activities. How about trying something else? Slower, with balance between study, duties, and rest and just being with each other? The idea of slow parenting comes in handy.
Slow parenting - where did it come from and what does it mean
Carl Honoré is considered to be the precursor of slow parenting. This Canadian journalist and columnist, while observing parents, noticed that at some point in the process of raising their children, they start to feel pressure. Parents wanted their children to constantly develop, acquire new skills, and participate in extracurricular activities after school. The pressure was increased by the message coming from the radio, television, the Internet or from friends. Raising a child turned into a constant race and competitioneven though the children themselves did not necessarily want to participate.
Carl began to propagate a movement in which children have space to explore their interests according to their own rhythm. Space for fun, but also for boredom and the so-called. doing nothing. For the freedom and rest they need so much.
A parent as a companion, not a director
Slow parenting doesn't mean "slow" in this case. It's about finding a rhythm that suits your family's needs. Establishing your own lifestyle, without taking part in the rat race, excessive competition and rigid schedule for the whole day, week or month.
As parents, we want to give our children the best of everything. We want to give them a good start in adult life, help them develop their talents. But sometimes our children need much more than that conversation, cuddling, playing together or walking in the woodsthan more educational activities, toys and games.
Slow parenting is about accompanying a child instead of directing his life. It's responding to his needs and listening to what he says. It is also a choice of priorities, when, for example, instead of cleaning the apartment, we can choose time spent together.
Why is boredom good?
A child who is overstimulated and accustomed to a fast-paced lifestyle can't find his way at first when there is no designated activity. And boredom is good! Boredom primarily supports children's creativity and imagination. Changing habits can be really hard at first. Over time, however, your child will begin to discover infinite creativity, and you will stop hearing: "Mom, Dad, I'm bored!".
Toys supporting children's creativity
It is worth providing children with appropriate toysthat support his creativity, arouse curiosity, or help develop fine motor skills. Instead of many plastic things that will soon be forgotten, choose timeless toys made of natural and safe materials. Thanks to this, they will serve the child for a long time and will even grow with him. It's all kinds educational toys, that imitate adult appliances: kitchens, cafes or a mini workshop. Multifunctional is also a great idea wooden rocker.
How to introduce parenthood in the rhythm of slow in your home?
Simple changes can bring really great results. If you want to live in the rhythm of slow parenting, make changes not only in the schedule, but above all in your attitude.
- turn off the TV not only fairy tales or programs for children, but also ... for yourself. Don't let it play in the background and distract you. Treat the TV as entertainment, not as a constant participant in home life.
- Have fun with your baby. Yes, it's not easy, because each of us dreams of a moment for ourselves after work. The easiest thing to do in such a situation is to turn on a fairy tale for a child. This, however, does not build family ties. So turn on a fairy tale for half an hour, make yourself some tea and have this moment for yourself, and then play games with your child, play or read a book.
- The right attitude is key. We feel differently when we think that the child will finally leave us alone and take care of ourselves, and differently when we look at these moments as moments when we can just be together.
- Spend time walking. The next washing, cleaning and washing dishes can wait until the evening. Time spent together is priceless. Thanks to this, the child not only discovers the world, but also builds a bond between you. Time is our greatest good. It cannot be undone or recovered. In addition, it passes so quickly that you won't know it, and your child will be a teenager who will prefer moments spent with peers to walks with their parents.
- The child does not have to be perfect. The fact that he has lower grades than his colleague does not mean that he is less capable or less capable. Maybe he's just great at math and history isn't necessarily his favorite subject? Watch your child, follow and support him. Give him the opportunity to make mistakes, after all, this is how we learn the fastest.
Slow parenting a way of life
You already know what slow parenting is. It's time to bring this idea into your family's life. You need to do most of this work yourself. IN Petit Deko we can support you by offering selected toys with an interesting design, made of the best quality materialsthat will help in unleashing creativity your child and discovering the world.
