Comments on: The Long Term Rewards of Under Indulgence http://greenbabyguide.com/2009/10/19/the-long-term-rewards-of-under-indulgence/ Earth Friendly, Budget Friendly Wed, 23 May 2012 04:30:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Carrie http://greenbabyguide.com/2009/10/19/the-long-term-rewards-of-under-indulgence/comment-page-1/#comment-3699 Carrie Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:25:33 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=3556#comment-3699 Also, buying used and under-indulging can teach patience and planning. When you are looking for a used item, you have to think about what you need well before you need it - and then search yard sales, Craig's List, etc until you find it! Sometimes it can take awhile, but the hunt can be fun and rewarding once you find the right thing. Also, buying used and under-indulging can teach patience and planning. When you are looking for a used item, you have to think about what you need well before you need it – and then search yard sales, Craig’s List, etc until you find it! Sometimes it can take awhile, but the hunt can be fun and rewarding once you find the right thing.

]]> By: esme http://greenbabyguide.com/2009/10/19/the-long-term-rewards-of-under-indulgence/comment-page-1/#comment-3698 esme Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:48:41 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=3556#comment-3698 The junk-selling consumer corpotocracy has somehow confused people into thinking that constant stimulation (often of the most mediocre kind) is beneficial to our children. Yet, you step outside, preferably a creek, a beach, a meadow, a trail...and all the senses are engaged in a most unobtrusive and highly stimulating way! When we are outside, we listen, look, smell, hear, touch, compare, contrast, build, experiment, run, jump, climb, throw, pretend, create, build up, take down......all in an hour or hour and half's time and often with no extra supplies. Much more if there is more time..... No single toy, no matter how many buttons, lights, beeps and features can give you that - and worse, they become bored of that piece of future landfill garbage anyway. The junk-selling consumer corpotocracy has somehow confused people into thinking that constant stimulation (often of the most mediocre kind) is beneficial to our children.

Yet, you step outside, preferably a creek, a beach, a meadow, a trail…and all the senses are engaged in a most unobtrusive and highly stimulating way!

When we are outside, we listen, look, smell, hear, touch, compare, contrast, build, experiment, run, jump, climb, throw, pretend, create, build up, take down……all in an hour or hour and half’s time and often with no extra supplies. Much more if there is more time…..

No single toy, no matter how many buttons, lights, beeps and features can give you that – and worse, they become bored of that piece of future landfill garbage anyway.

]]> By: Amy Dunn http://greenbabyguide.com/2009/10/19/the-long-term-rewards-of-under-indulgence/comment-page-1/#comment-3688 Amy Dunn Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:18:21 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=3556#comment-3688 I could not agree with this more! At some point, we got the idea that we had to buy tons and tons of "stuff" with bells and whistles and all sorts of noises to constantly stimulate our children. My relatives send so much stuff for my 2 year old (which I appreciate)- but I put most of it away for her to enjoy on special days. With all the fancy toys she has- her favorite activity is to look through her books and go for walks. I could not agree with this more! At some point, we got the idea that we had to buy tons and tons of “stuff” with bells and whistles and all sorts of noises to constantly stimulate our children. My relatives send so much stuff for my 2 year old (which I appreciate)- but I put most of it away for her to enjoy on special days. With all the fancy toys she has- her favorite activity is to look through her books and go for walks.

]]> By: The Prudent Homemaker http://greenbabyguide.com/2009/10/19/the-long-term-rewards-of-under-indulgence/comment-page-1/#comment-3686 The Prudent Homemaker Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:59:33 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=3556#comment-3686 My children are actually GRATEFUL to recieve needed items, such as new socks, for Christmas. My then 3yo son gave me a huge hug last year and thanked me for his gifts. Both of my boys (then 3 and 5) were really excited to get new socks! All of my children asked for handkerchiefs (I made them some) and they were happy to receive them. Another benfit to less stuff is a quicker clean-up time, and less overall mess, which means less stress for children cleaning up and for parents asking their children to clean up. My children are actually GRATEFUL to recieve needed items, such as new socks, for Christmas. My then 3yo son gave me a huge hug last year and thanked me for his gifts. Both of my boys (then 3 and 5) were really excited to get new socks! All of my children asked for handkerchiefs (I made them some) and they were happy to receive them.

Another benfit to less stuff is a quicker clean-up time, and less overall mess, which means less stress for children cleaning up and for parents asking their children to clean up.

]]> By: KiwiLog http://greenbabyguide.com/2009/10/19/the-long-term-rewards-of-under-indulgence/comment-page-1/#comment-3685 KiwiLog Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:07:11 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=3556#comment-3685 Hi! We loved your post over at KiwiLog and decided to feature it as part of our weekly mom blog round-up. Thanks! Hi! We loved your post over at KiwiLog and decided to feature it as part of our weekly mom blog round-up. Thanks!

]]> By: Lori http://greenbabyguide.com/2009/10/19/the-long-term-rewards-of-under-indulgence/comment-page-1/#comment-3684 Lori Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:10:52 +0000 http://greenbabyguide.com/?p=3556#comment-3684 I find the friends and family piece is the hardest to manage. Family members that want to "spoil" my kids feel that I'm being too harsh when I ask them to limit gifts, or give more of the necessary items and fewer toys. This has created friction in our family, and I have finally decided it is just not worth fighting for. In general I don't buy toys for my kids anymore because I know they are going to get so many (too many!) from family members. I find the friends and family piece is the hardest to manage. Family members that want to “spoil” my kids feel that I’m being too harsh when I ask them to limit gifts, or give more of the necessary items and fewer toys. This has created friction in our family, and I have finally decided it is just not worth fighting for. In general I don’t buy toys for my kids anymore because I know they are going to get so many (too many!) from family members.

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