Ep. 003 | Children

[@juneshockley3279]

For a week I had been asking my 10 year old son to straighten his room. Day after day it remained a disorganized mess. One day he came home from school and his room was empty except for the bare essentials. He came running downstairs, "Where's my stuff?" Oh, honey I said, all that stuff was a burden. I was upset it was a mess, you were upset that you had to clean your room. So, I packed it away and we can give it to another child who really needs it and wants to take care of it. You see, I want your room organized so if you need your baseball mit and all the kids are waiting, you know right where it is and you can just grab it and go play. BUT, I said, I realize my choices are not your choices so, every week you may pick three things you need most and put them back in your room. He was a new boy and we did not argue about keeping his room organized and tidy from that time forward. In addition, he realized he did not actually need all of that stuff and we were able to donate to a local boys and girls club.

[@doeeyedfaun4020]

I took all my children's artwork and scanned everything that would fit on the scanner. I am now creating a scrapbook, via shutterfly, with all of them in it. I went from a huge portfolio to a 20 page book showcasing their best artwork.

[@lisaquah3856]

DoeEyedFaun that's such a great idea!

[@jjgems5909]

Great idea! I wish we had this growing up for my parents. My dad tried to save so much of our artwork and ended up hoarding so much of it and so much of it was ruined in bins in our garage. I’m going to bring up this idea to my dad and see if he’s up to try and save what’s left of our artwork 👍🏼🙏🏼

[@hardlyart]

I consider myself a minimalist: I've successfully decluttered my home over the years, but the first thing you'd notice if you came to visit would be the huge number of books. Its complex, but reasons for my collection range from wanting to hand them down to my kids, to letting them define who I am (I'm an intelligent guy! See! I read all these books!) Being a regular reader of The Minimalists I felt like I needed to meet them go. After much soul searching however, I believe they Add Value to my life - I like how they look, they make me feel at comfortable, and I regularly dip into them (for they are mostly reference books). Its a similar thing to you guys talking about artists who collect materials - if they add value then thats the bottom line, right?

[@TheHannahbarker]

This was really helpful for me and my kiddo! Thanks guys! Keep doing what you're doing, I've listened to your podcast every day since watching your documentary :)

[@sarasachiko]

I think this would be such a cool opportunity to teach your kids about donating to those that have less than you.

[@amandarestivo9297]

Advertisers are sneaky too - I noticed a huge difference in my child's desire for "things" when I took KZbin Kids off of the ipad. There are too many videos "unboxing" toys and it is a form of advertisement!!!

[@jm1305]

Great listen. Very interesting. I am considering adopting a minimalist lifestyle, but I am dealing with 3 generations of 'stuff'. So I have a very hard starting point...but I have started! 🎉🎉🎉

[@Jessiemadanat]

My solution is stations. I set up their playroom similar to a preschool - art space, small manipulative a in clear bins, big open space to tumble,, nature table, library etc. It's very clear where everything goes. Rotating toys also helps. Keep a bin in the basement and only buy open ended toys for example a doll, Legos, blocks. None of these toys think for you you have to bring them alive and there is unlimited ways to play with them. Also we do a lot of nature walks who needs art supplies when you have sticks, pine cones, rocks to play paint and decorate with!

[@popestar100]

awesome podcast guys life changing info I'm just starting minimilism and clearing out stuff feels good ☺ hope to drop my working hrs as a 46 yr old truck driver from 60 hrs to 30 - 3 days a week and start enjoying life 👍

[@elmachomen]

Great episode! I´m not a parent myself but I think that regardless, there´s definitely value in this episode for everyone. I wrote down a few of the podcasts that you guys recommended (I´m just starting with podcasts myself and yours was the first one), I´m excited to start listening to them. Take care and keep up the good work!

[@GG-si7fw]

I have a question for a future podcast. What is in your wallet? I don't mean how much money you carry. Besides the DL, any rewards card to a local coffee shop or convenience store, credit card, frequent flyer card? For example, I have two rewards card to a coffee shop, 2 grocery store rewards card, 1 credit card, 2 debit card, 2 library cards, Costco, DL, car insurance, health insurance, dental insurance, (yes, it is separate from health insurance), 2 gift cards from my job that I earned, and 2-3 gift cards from Christmas that I have not used yet. So yes, my walletand I feel the cards. I used to carry more credentials as a RN, but now those can be verified online.

[@jeffreythelin7397]

Thanks so much for this! My wife and I have a 5 month old and the Godzilla is certainly growing. I think there's still some hope though!

[@troybadger55]

Binging while stuff goes into give, sell, and garbage piles. Feeling lighter already.

[@leannewheeler5351]

I keep books that I reference regularly; mostly nonfiction books.

[@jaclyn3052]

I have been telling my family all year i don want anything. If they want to give something, they can give money to help pay off my house. They then present me with gifts~!!!! "I KNOW you said you didnt want anything but I got you some stuff anyway". How can they understand why I don't want their stuff??

[@TheMinimalists]

+Jaclyn Find ways to communicate it more frequently. They understand intellectually, but not emotionally. You need to show them the emotional side of why.

[@ChazEvansdale]

+Jaclyn The way you presented this situation it's only about you. You should care about the people giving the gifts. Maybe they enjoy giving. You're taking that away from them if you tell them, 'no'. So, my suggestion with that in mind is to ask for experiences, such as food gift certificates, movie/theater/sports tickets, or something you'll use, like picks/strings for your guitar. This way they can still get you something and be happy in gift giving, but also you'll get something you can use.

[@oursomedaytv]

Yours is my favourite podcast 👌

[@feathersky860]

Thank you for all you do. You INSPIRE ME 💙💚💜

[@TheMinimalists]

Wow, thank you!

[@michellebyrd979]

Any chance for an updated podcast/video on decluttering with children? Particular three girls under the age of 8?? 😳😳😳 Thanks, love your content! (Currently doing the #minsgame over on Instagram, loving it!)

[@shannonengelken4629]

Thanks for the great podcast recommendations!

[@grandmasmith]

Just in case you have not had the time to keep on everything (who does?)...they have realized/learned in the last few years (at least that's when they went public) that children record everything until they're about 7 years old so, you are absolutely right that they watch EVERYTHING! If I had known that when mine were younger they would be very different people today with less emotional baggage.

[@winstonweeks1917]

Outstanding podcasts guys! I enjoyed your recommendations on other podcasts. I think it is great that you check out Bill Maher and then Glenn Beck. Spiritual versus atheist views. I think it is best to listen to all sides and come to your own conclusions and decisions. So many folks stay only on one side of the coin and it limits you. Thank you!!! :)

[@sonjazachowski391]

What are the psychological reasons behind children asking the same questions?

[@Beetshelps]

Hey guys , i can't find the app ? whos the developer ? much thx !

[@mariyakaducey]

What if I have a loooottttt of reference books? What do you do then? Thank you so much for such an amazing podcast!!!

[@Lady-Jane1]

Mariya Jensikbayeva - if you are ready to let go of the books, have you considered offering them to your local library or school so that they can add value to lots of other people?

[@sariahhayford3331]

Is there an Android app comparable to Overcast? It looks like it is only compatible with Apple products

[@ZenDragoonYT]

I neither have kids nor want them. Yet here i am

[@reebuch]

have you uploaded this on itunes?

[@TheMinimalists]

+tsubaki Sundays on iTunes.

[@reebuch]

ha ha it s already sunday in Japan, anyway love your podcast :)

[@TheMinimalists]

+tsubaki Hehe. You're living in the future! It's not available on iTunes. Enjoy!

[@lulybelula1]

The cc did zero justice to the voicemail guy who had a heavy accent lmao

[@jjgems5909]

I told all my friends and family not to get my son toys for his birthday (he’s only turning one lol) but seriously, he already had so many toys and i don’t care if it seems tacky or weird to request no toys. I don’t want anymore fucking toys! Lmao 😂

[@lavenderrose6377]

Trying to listen to this and the kids keep interrupting for one thing or another ..............

[@marvillabonilla364]

i don't get it. i really love all y! i love your minimalist ideas and tips, but then you list about 20 podcasts? that's not very minimalists.

[@CT-pv9gu]

The podcasts aren't anything to do with material possessions. They are just talking on a podcast.

[@MonicaEvans1]

Disappointed. I was hoping the podcast speakers actually HAD children. or at the very least had a guest on who has children. I didn't finish listening b/c some things are easier said than done, and I'd rather hear from people who practice what they preach in the "minimalist with kids" department. I hope you don't take offense, and I hope you accept this criticism as just my honest opinion.

[@ryankhss]

Monica Evans they now have friends they refer to us with kids and I started out with myself first anyway and was able to transfer some of my steps to my kids. I think if you go to the theminimalists.com/family you will find some good links:)

[@ZenDragoonYT]

You can gain alot of value from an outside-looking-in opinion. Parents can turn blind eyes and become complacent with "well other children have this and other parents do this" but it creates a cycle thats hard to break. Just because someone doesnt have a kid doesnt mean their information is invalid. We were all once children. And some of us observed how siblings were raised in comparison.