Customer Reviews

Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a clinical psychologist, and mother to an 18-month old, I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book. Since becoming pregnant, I have felt this certain 'pressure' to do do do for my child. Intuitively, I felt that it was too much, both for me and my child.This book helped me see how it was too much. My favorite part of course, as with everyone else, is the chapter on toys. I got rid of (put away) all toys that did not sustain my daughter's attention or were just plain annoying! I am trying to minimize the amount of toys, keep an open space, and buy only toys that stimulate her imagination. What I am finding is that I am a lot more interested in her world because of this (what adult can really stand Elmo for too long). I have backed off from feeling that I need to play with her, and as a result, am more calm and aware of her. We also started integrating a day of the week (sundays) where my husband and I do not use the internet or tv. We found ourselves feeling calmer and feeling more bonded as a family. There are probably a million more things that I could say about this book, but the bottom line: do not hyperparent (or your child will end up in my office with anxiety or related concern), keep things calm, get rid of ugly or loud plastic toys, and get out into nature! Read this book:-)

Having just finished posting a parenting article on STUFF <http://kellysalasin.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/stuff/>, I was heartened to read Kim John Payne's approach in this, his latest book: Simplicity Parenting. See Chapter 3 for a "10-Point Checklist" of types of toys to discard. Payne suggests getting rid of half of them--and then another half-- and maybe even another half! Payne's experience--as an educator, counselor and leading edge thinker--shows up on every page, as does his trademark humor and genuine compassion--not only for children, but for us parents too! It helps the medicine go down.

Some of the "simplicity" literature, including some of the parenting lit on "creative" parenting is over the top for me. I am never going to knit or can my own vegetables. This book is different. It gives justification based on psychological theory and research. And its recommendations are practical and concrete, but not overwhelming. It's more about doing *less* (fewer toys, fewer activities) and paying more attention to our children. It is NOT about growing vegetables, cooking your own baby food, or making wooden toys. Nor is it about consequences or how to talk to your children. It is about giving one's children time, space and support to live and grow. Love it!

This book had a huge impact on me. I had already read several books about the Waldorf philosophy and have always tried to live a simple life. I have one, 2.5 year old, son. Before he was born my husband and I spent a lot of time talking about how we wanted to raise him, and one of our major dreams was somehow protecting him from the consumerism we see all around us. I hope to raise a child that doesn't feel his value and identity are at all connected with what he owns. Yet, despite believing in all of that, I found myself buying into the idea of educational toys. I worried that we didn't own enough stuff for our son. I worried that by not having electronic toys that I was denying my son something. I started collecting a ton of these toys for my son and couldn't figure out why he wanted nothing to do with any of them. He seemed bored with all toys and I was really frustrated. Then I found this book. I remembered all the dreams my husband and I had for our son and how none of them involved having every toy the store carried. I have since sold 2/3 of my sons toys and he plays completely differently. We take nature walks several times a week and spend more time at home rather than running to an event everyday. Every electronic toy is out of my house. I feel like I have my home back and that we've finally created the environment I'd always hoped for. I see my sons imagination growing every day and am so thankful I read this book when I did. I definitely needed to hear that it's good for kids to not have all that stuff and it's so true. My husband is also much happier, he didn't agree with all the buying I was doing. I wish every parent would read this book! I also recommend the book 'Taking Back Childhood' by Nancy Carlsson-Paige.

I really enjoyed this book. While I'm not a parent yet, I tend to read a lot on the subject to shape what kind of parent I want to be in the future. All the suggestions and reasoning was excellent in this book--it makes you consider the overstimulated lives of not only children, but adults. A lot of what Payne says can be helpful for anyone's life.

The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is because sometimes Payne's prose can drag a bit. The patient examples and references to studies are fascinating, but at times his explanations can get a bit repetitive and wordy. But, perhaps I felt this way because I've read a lot on the subject of simplicity parenting, so I felt like I already was familiar with what he was talking about and didn't need so much explanation.

Overall, though, a definite read. Will make you rethink the world we introduce to our kids.

As of today, the 3 and below stars this book has received had to do with the price of the Kindle version, a totally incomplete review that looks to be typed from someone's phone, and someone complaining about a "fact slip-up" - wrong gaming system for the year one anecdote was to take place. Not fair.

I'd like to contribute a 5 star review to help cancel out these, although I don't have anything profound or unique to say about it that's not mentioned in other reviews. Just count me as another reader who found it to be a very helpful, inspiring, and practical book. I have found I have taken much of the advice to heart and application in my parenting since reading it. I originally got it from the library, but just purchased it so I can turn to it for inspiration and encouragement and loan it to friends.

If you as a parent are feeling the stress of raising kids in our frantic culture, then this is the book for you. Having 5 kids 7-20, I can say that the culture has shifted dramatically in the past 15 years. Our kids are being raised in a culture that is going at a faster and faster pace, and it is taking its tole on their health and emotional well being. Simplicity Parenting is a common sense antedote for the pace of the modern world. It is full of timeless wisdom for creating balance and wholeness in the lives of our kids. We impemented just a couple of the many practical suggestions and as a result, the tranquility index of every member of the family increased expedentially. This is truly the best parenting book I have ever read.

This is BY FAR one of the best parenting books I have read (and I read A LOT!) It is well written and well organized with so many tangible ideas for parents. So often I will read a parenting book that sounds great in theory but offers no real "concrete" ideas for parents to implement. This book has definitely rewired my brain in how I approach my children and parenting them in general.

This is the best parenting book I've ever read. I love the insight into his philosophy (just a chapter or two) and then super practical tips for simplifying your home. I have a newborn, three-year-old, and five-year-old and wish I had read this book when our first was born. Payne does a great job of putting some things into perspective and helping parents articulate what's often in our hearts for our family & home but struggle to bring into the practical. We are so thankful to be reading this book with young(er) children and will refer to this book for years to come. We're recommending it to all of our friends and also suggest getting this for new parents (as a shower gift!!!).

I first read "Simplicity Parenting" about a year and a half ago, and I still re-read it from time to time when I need to calm things down again for my family. I've also read a lot of parenting books before and since, and I have to say that I think "Simplicity Parenting" is the absolute best parenting book out there, and I wish there more like it.

So many parenting books seem to focus on something the author thinks is a growing epidemic in our culture, something that is not just negative but is Destroying Society As We Know It. These books usually go on and on for chapters with alarmist and anecdotal "evidence" about this grave danger ... and then stick in a few pages with some common sense ideas to fix things. Not helpful, and usually depressing.

Payne's approach is far different. Although he has a lot to say about what's wrong with our culture, that's not the main focus of this book. Payne's main focus in on the positive: his vision of how childhood could and should be. And each chapter is full of practical ideas that can actually make a holistic difference in family life. Best of all, I always come away from this book happier, calmer, and inspired.