My son is 17 and my daughter is 14.
But when we first began pursuing minimalism, my son was only 5 and my daughter was 2. Which means, they’ve seen us trying to live a minimalist life as young kids, as elementary-aged kids, and now as they enter the end of their high school years.
And whether we like it or not, our kids are learning from us. They are learning about values and worldview and how to live their lives when they become adults.
I know this isn’t the case for everyone. But personally, I’m happy to know we chose a more minimalist life while our kids are still at home. They’ve learned valuable lessons (or at least I hope they’ve learned some valuable lessons from us).
Here are seven ways minimalism has impacted my kids:
1. They’ve learned that they don’t need to buy things to be happy.
For the rest of their lives, advertisers will barrage them (and us) with the message that our life needs more. That happiness will appear if we buy whatever they’re selling.
Many people will believe it and buy into it, and start chasing and accumulating things that they don’t need to be happy. My children have seen, from us, that you don’t need to own a lot of things to be happy.
2. They’ve learned that you don’t have to live like everyone else.
You don’t have to live like everyone else on your block… or in your neighborhood… or in society. Everyone else may be chasing bigger houses and nicer cars and changing fashion, but you don’t have to live like that if you don’t want. In fact, you’ll probably be happier if you don’t.
3. They’ve learned the value of living within their means.
No matter what their income level might be, as they get older, they won’t need to overspend it to find happiness. In fact, quite the opposite is true: When we begin overspending our income is when we start adding unnecessary burden and stress to our lives—rather than finding contentment with what they have.
4. They’ve learned the importance of being deliberate in their purchases.
As my kids have gotten older and found new hobbies and passions and pursuits, there are purchases that have accompanied those new pursuits and new passions.
But each time, they’ve seen us be deliberate and intentional thinking through the next purchase asking questions like “What do you actually need in order to begin playing this new sport or starting this new hobby? What do we already have that will work? What are the needs that you have in order to do it well?”
5. They’ve learned the importance of sharing with others.
Generosity is the byproduct of minimalism. My children have seen us get rid of the things we don’t need and donate them to be shared with others. They’ve seen us become generous with our finances. And that our time and excess can be used to solve problems around the world.
6. They’ve learned the value of spending time together.
As we’ve owned fewer possessions, we’ve wasted less time cleaning and organizing and maintaining all the stuff that we used to have. We’ve been able to spend more time together, making memories together, enjoying experiences together.
The greatest gift we can ever give to someone else is our time. I’m confident my children have learned that over the last decade.
7. They’ve learned they are in control of their stuff, not the other way around.
The old adage is true, “The more stuff you own, the more your stuff owns you.” I’m just convinced most people don’t realize how much of a burden their possessions have become until they begin to remove them.
That being said, to live is to consume. There are needs that we have and things that we own in order to fulfill our purpose and live the life that we want to live.
But you don’t have to own so much stuff that your possessions begin to dictate your life. You own your stuff, not the other way around.
There are countless values and life lessons that I want my kids to learn from me, but the importance and value of owning less is definitely near the top. It will set them up for a lifetime of potential.
It made my sisters kids MISERABLE and now they hate her, everywhere they went they saw things they wanted yet the slightest of requests was met with “no” They had to store their stuff at friends houses because “milimilista” mother would throw things out even if they got it with money that was given to them from someone else.
Now they hate her, she is old and alone and miserable
Happy minimalism
Gandu, I’m sorry your sisters children did not learn from your sister’s wisdom. The article pointed out to me that I have always been a minimalist, even if I never claimed to be one. I am happy and I believe my children are. All we need is enough. Things don’t buy happiness. My riches are not monetary in nature. God bless you!
I have stuff. Stuff that means nothing to me. I can’t park in my garage. If I donate my stuff I won’t have to hold another garage sale and I’ll be able to park in my garage so the car burglars can’t get to it. Might make my wife happier. Hmmm–
She didn’t bother to DO other things with them, she didn’t teach them and it was too black and white without the love and world view behind it. This example you give is an unsaturated and spurious one. If you read the article it’s all about relationship. This is not the purpose, idea or plan in minimalism. Did you read through the entire article to see the difference in the how-to’s or why’s?
I meant to type counterfeit not unsaturated. 😂
2. Or in your family …
I had this exact thought as I read that one.
What a great article. We have twin 15 year old boys and an 11 year old son as well and have greatly simplified our home over the last year using Becoming Minimalist, Simplify, and resources on YouTube from Joshua Becker and the Minimal Mom. There is so much support out there, but not a lot of content for minimal teens. Thanks for this- will be forwarding along.
Can you share links to resources for minimal teens and tweens? I haven’t been able to find much at all…
It would be great to live a minimalist lifestyle as you don’t have much to spend your time fixing or doing stuff that could have just taken much of your time. Little space – little time and you could have used those times on spending on more productive works. This is just cool to know. Thank you for sharing this with us. I feel blessed to have read your post.
Keep safe always! Enjoy your life to the fullest!
My kids are the same ages as yours, so i was excited to read this – but really it’s just a list of “what’s good about minimalism” with “as my kids have got older they’ve learned…” tacked onto the front.
I mean, do you have any examples at all to illustrate? There were surely some times when your minimalist credo conflicted with how their friends live, for example. How did they (and you) manage their feelings then?
Thank you so much, a different blog site this page.
I love the personal pic of you and your wife ❤️
Thanks for letting us into your life!
Blessings!
We raised our kids with a minimal home and stuff, and maximized time with them, hiking, working, exploring hands on projects, etc. We are still close to them and our grandchildren, and share the same spiritual beliefs and basic values, but they do not live as minimally as we do. Children grow up and marry and develop their own styles.
All good values to instil.
I wonder what values from this list that your children would admit they will take forward into their lives though!