Simplicity

It has really hit home today that less is definitely more.  I've noticed that the weeks where we are less busy, relaxing at home and with family are usually the most settled times for our kids.  They just seem to to be 'better' when we are at home doing things around the house with me spending quality time with them rather than rushing around.

We were talking at Steiner Play group about sensory overload and how it contributes to the occurrence of ADHD and other behaviour disorders.  Recent studies suggest that the more T.V. children watch the more likely they are to have one of these disorders or to move up the Austic spectrum.  The reason for this is the fast based nature of t.v with its constant 'changes' in order to keep the viewer hooked.  This pace is not matched by real life and so children, and adults, constantly feel that there is not enough to simulate them and hence create their own stimulation. 

I had already noticed the difference in the way our two play since stopping Play centre, where there are at least 16 areas of play out each session.  They are know much happier to play with things for longer and really get into whatever they are doing.  They also play much more with each other as we are home more often and the playgroup we do go to is small so they have to interact with each other. 

I constantly go between wanting just the basics for our kids (minimal living so that their imaginations have space to grow) and guilty feelings over the possibility that I am depriving them of all the things other kids have.  Reality is that most kids in the world have less that what ours have and at the end of the day it is about the atmosphere they grow up in, not the toys, that matters.  For us we prefer life without t.v, close to nature and together as a family.