Honouring the Sanctity of Childhood: Simplicity Parenting with Kim John Payne M.Ed.
My guest today is none other than Kim John Payne, a child and family counsellor, consultant, educator, researcher and the author of the number one bestseller, ‘Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Happier, Calmer, More Secure Kids’. Kim says that our faster, busier society today is ‘waging an undeclared war on childhood’, of too much ‘too much stuff, too many choices, too much sexiness, too much information, and too much speed’. And while we don’t have the power to change the more, louder, faster world around us, we do have the power as parents, Kim says, to ‘declare peace in our homes’. Today's is such a hopeful episode, because it’s about the choices that we get to make, as parents, to give our children a childhood in a time when this is no longer a given. Kim and I talk about: How average kids without any obvious history of trauma are experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, just as a result of the cumulative stress of living in the 21st century world The work of ‘simplicity parenting’ that Kim developed to help families consciously wind back the different sources of stress in children’s lives, through: Decluttering our children’s environment Bringing warm, nurturing rhythms and rituals into our children’s days Balancing our little one’s schedules Filtering out adult information (because it’s not just too much stuff that’s overwhelming for children - it’s also the clutter of too much information) And creating values-centered family leadership, and fostering a family culture that truly reflects our values and our desires. If you enjoy today's episode, it would mean the world to me if you left me a review over on iTunes, because that helps to get this podcast in front of other wild mamas who could also benefit from these conversations. You can also share this podcast with other mamas by simply taking a screenshot and sharing it on Instagram, and don’t forget to tag me at @drjessicahodgens! RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE: Grab your copy of my free guide, 'The Four Things you Actually Need to Know to Prepare for a Physiologic ("Natural") Birth' Read Kim’s book ‘Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Happier, Calmer, More Secure Kids’. CONNECT WITH KIM: On Facebook [Link: https://www.facebook.com/SimplicityParenting/] At his website: [link: https://www.simplicityparenting.com/] Until next time - stay wild, mamas! Jess xx Find me on Instagram at @drjessicahodgens www.jessicahodgens.com Intro and outro music: "Bloom", from the album The Jasmani Garden by Deya Dova, with the kind permission of the artist. Cover image by Briony Goodsell. I'm living and mothering on the unceded Country of Dharawal people, and I gratefully acknowledge their ongoing work - and the work of indigenous people everywhere - in the service of thriving life on earth.