“I’m too busy sitting still” has been my line for the past two years.
This world is too fast for me and I’ve wanted something different for myself and my kids for a little while now. These are strictly my opinions and preferences and reactions to the world around me. It’s important for me to live what I believe, and this is how that plays out.
So, here’s what slow living looks like in our home and how I try to make it part of everyday life.
Not Over-scheduling
I really believe that over-scheduling kids comes from fear; fear that that we aren’t exposing them to enough, fear that they won’t have enough on their college resume, fear of what they’ll do if they’re not entertained. I encourage parents to fight against this fear and to allow their kids time for family, unstructured play, and boredom.
We still go to one class a week, but most of our out-of-the-house-time is spent visiting family and friends or museums, the library, or park. We wonder why the American family is breaking down, but how many kids are out every weekend participating in sports and extracurriculars? How much time is really spent together? We wonder why kids are anxious and stressed and then we shuffle them from activity to activity on the tightest timeline.
I believe in building a strong family culture, and that takes effort and time together.
Unstructured play time also means the kids have room to explore, imagine, and entertain themselves, and I get a chance to breathe. Slow living isn’t about never leaving the house — it’s about choosing a few meaningful activities rather than cramming everything in.
Limited Notifications and Technology
Phones, alerts, and constant notifications can make any day feel rushed. I keep my phone on silent or in another room as much as possible, especially when the kids are awake. This allows me to be fully present while they’re learning, playing, or just being silly. It’s also a great way to model healthy tech habits for them from an early age.
People are being fed a constant stream of data these days – from notifications when a package is delivered to their door, to news alerts from things happening on the other side of the world, to information about their heart rate. A few years ago I said enough to engaging with this insanity. I’ve found that I’m not constantly throwing my nervous system into a panic.
Teaching Through Everyday Life
Life is full of natural learning moments if you slow down enough to notice them. We use baking, gardening, and simple household chores as ways to teach numbers, patterns, responsibility, and problem-solving. Measuring ingredients becomes a math lesson, planting seeds teaches patience and science, and cooking together shows them how things work step by step. Little kids soak it up without even realizing they’re “learning.”
Our backyard becomes a classroom in the warmer months. It’s important to me that my kids have a strong understanding and respect of the local plants and animals, as well as the Native Americans that populated Long Island before us.
Engaging With Community
Slow living isn’t just about home life — it’s about connection. We try to spend time with neighbors, local friends, or small groups, whether it’s a playground meetup, storytime at the library, or giving out food from our garden. These interactions give the kids a sense of belonging and teach empathy, cooperation, and social skills in a real-world setting.
Limiting Screen Time (No iPads or Tablets)
I have pretty strong opinions about screens with little kids. We allow the occasional short show on my phone, but no iPads or tablets in our home. Research shows that interactive screens can overstimulate toddlers and reduce opportunities for imaginative play and self-directed learning.
By keeping screens limited, the kids learn to play, explore, and entertain themselves without constantly needing an external source of stimulation.
Encouraging Balance and Resilience
At the end of the day, slow living is about raising kids who aren’t spoiled, entitled, or constantly needing entertainment. We want our children to grow up curious, resilient, and grounded. They need to learn patience, problem-solving, and how to enjoy simple moments — the kind of skills that can’t be rushed or downloaded.
Slowing down doesn’t mean doing nothing — it means being intentional with our time, our energy, and our attention. And in a house full of little kids, slowing down a little makes all the difference.
Do you practice slow living?
Let me know below!
O.
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