I borrowed this book from the library recently and had to skim (my little boy is just entering the toddler phase so I'm very busy, I'm sure you can relate)! I really enjoyed it too and found this article very helpful. My parents are good people but they watched the news every night and then Dateline after, and I remember how terrified both used to make me when I watched them as a kid!
I listened to the audiobook doing the dishes etc while my daughter was about 2 as I also struggled to find time to read it cover to cover. I found it immensely helpful in framing “parenting “ for me
I read this book back when my kids were small-like 2011, and it had a huge influence on how we parented. It made so much sense then and makes even more now!
I squeaked when I saw you had written about this book! Two of my faves. 😀 I love your work and Kim John Payne is my favorite parenting guru, he is so warm and reassuring. He also has other amazing books including The Soul of Discipline and a great podcast series, The Simplicity Parenting Podcast on Spotify.
Thanks for sharing about this book. I read it in the spring and recently revisited it during the holiday bustle to reread the section on toys, which I remembered for its valuable insights. Although the book was published before the smartphone craze, many of the author's observations — particularly about "high-stimulation toys" and their ability to hijack children's equilibrium — feel even more relevant and essential today.
Love this book and this article! The book is highly recommended by my child's Waldorf school, and we've tried to implement many of the recommendations in our own home - few structured activities, few plans, more time to just "be" and hang out, no news on for young children. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I hate the word sanctuary regarding the home (many of us are way safer than we act) but I will add that I read this years ago and it has been a defining idea in my family's life. Do less. Home more. Cultivate interests not nightly activities. Thanks for reminding me.
I've always loved the idea of Rhythm for my kids and family but really struggle with it. Partly due to external things like changing work schedules for an unfortunate number of modern jobs -- even something as seemingly simple as "partner may get off work 30-45 minutes late once or twice a week" throws off family dinners and bedtime routines. But also just it doesn't come naturally to me for whatever reason. Maybe it should be my New Years Resolution? :-)
Thanks for your comment! One thought: I don't think that rhythm has to be tied to time, necessarily, or at least not too tightly. We eat dinner at varying times, according to family members' schedules, but the routine remains the same, that we all sit down together to eat, whether it's 5:30 or 7 pm. This may shorten the bedtime routine (granted, that's easier with older kids) but there's still a predictability to the evening's events that kids benefit from.
Oo! I should add this one to my goodreads list. It sounds very similar to what I try to implement in my own life. I was fortunate to work as a nanny before having children and they really thrive in specific circumstances listed by the author. Thanks for sharing!
I borrowed this book from the library recently and had to skim (my little boy is just entering the toddler phase so I'm very busy, I'm sure you can relate)! I really enjoyed it too and found this article very helpful. My parents are good people but they watched the news every night and then Dateline after, and I remember how terrified both used to make me when I watched them as a kid!
I listened to the audiobook doing the dishes etc while my daughter was about 2 as I also struggled to find time to read it cover to cover. I found it immensely helpful in framing “parenting “ for me
I read this book back when my kids were small-like 2011, and it had a huge influence on how we parented. It made so much sense then and makes even more now!
I squeaked when I saw you had written about this book! Two of my faves. 😀 I love your work and Kim John Payne is my favorite parenting guru, he is so warm and reassuring. He also has other amazing books including The Soul of Discipline and a great podcast series, The Simplicity Parenting Podcast on Spotify.
Thanks for sharing about this book. I read it in the spring and recently revisited it during the holiday bustle to reread the section on toys, which I remembered for its valuable insights. Although the book was published before the smartphone craze, many of the author's observations — particularly about "high-stimulation toys" and their ability to hijack children's equilibrium — feel even more relevant and essential today.
Love this book and this article! The book is highly recommended by my child's Waldorf school, and we've tried to implement many of the recommendations in our own home - few structured activities, few plans, more time to just "be" and hang out, no news on for young children. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I hate the word sanctuary regarding the home (many of us are way safer than we act) but I will add that I read this years ago and it has been a defining idea in my family's life. Do less. Home more. Cultivate interests not nightly activities. Thanks for reminding me.
I've always loved the idea of Rhythm for my kids and family but really struggle with it. Partly due to external things like changing work schedules for an unfortunate number of modern jobs -- even something as seemingly simple as "partner may get off work 30-45 minutes late once or twice a week" throws off family dinners and bedtime routines. But also just it doesn't come naturally to me for whatever reason. Maybe it should be my New Years Resolution? :-)
Thanks for your comment! One thought: I don't think that rhythm has to be tied to time, necessarily, or at least not too tightly. We eat dinner at varying times, according to family members' schedules, but the routine remains the same, that we all sit down together to eat, whether it's 5:30 or 7 pm. This may shorten the bedtime routine (granted, that's easier with older kids) but there's still a predictability to the evening's events that kids benefit from.
Oo! I should add this one to my goodreads list. It sounds very similar to what I try to implement in my own life. I was fortunate to work as a nanny before having children and they really thrive in specific circumstances listed by the author. Thanks for sharing!