Slow parenting

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Slow parenting (also called simplicity parenting) is a parenting style in which few activities are organised for children. Instead, they are allowed to explore the world at their own pace. It is a response to concerted cultivation and the widespread trend for parents to schedule activities and classes after school; to solve problems on behalf of the children, and to buy services from commercial suppliers rather than letting nature take its course.[citation needed]





Play is a natural part of childhood, which allows young people to explore and discover at their own pace. Children invest 15% of their energy in playing[3]:54 demonstrating their natural inclination and the evolutionary benefit. Children have a natural skill for playing and exploring in a way that is appropriate. Other mammals also play in developing their own skills in a realistic but less dangerous environment. However, formal learning is more beneficial from the age of six.[3]:64 Toys, technology and an adult-imposed educational curriculum are not required, according to the philosophy.


Slow parenting does not advocate watching television. Television is not interactive; a person can watch it with little thinking and no action. It can occupy an enormous amount of time, and some programs are even inappropriate for children. At the same time, it is often created by commercial interests with minimal investment in the program content and a maximum of advertising. The Social aspects of television are widely discussed and often considered to be negative. Introducing children to television (including families watching it together) is a recommendation to continue this lifestyle, and a discouragement to any other play or activity.[4]


However, it is recognised that television is a convenient baby-sitter, and that some programs are enjoyable (The Idle Parent contains a list of the author's favourites[2]). Choices might include watching only ten-year-old pre-recorded video tapes, or watching broadcast television with children and giving a real-time commentary on the content and its message.


Everyday life does contain risk. Slow parenting advocates[who?] would argue that in order to develop a healthy understanding of that, children must be allowed to face risks.[5]

Because many parents have themselves been raised in a risk-averse way, Slow Parenting advocates[who?] would maintain that they are often unable to judge which risks are significant. For example, stranger danger, a cornerstone of child "safety", has been criticized for allegedly assuming that all strangers are dangerous, and by negative inference that all familiar people are safe.[citation needed]

An open letter by more than one hundred leading pediatricians, academics, and authors, published in The Daily Telegraph, highlighted how a fast-paced and consumerist lifestyle has emphasized the fear of physical harm and the subsequent emotional and social damage to children.[6] The newspaper then invited responses from the public and received nearly 120 pro-slow parenting responses within days. These highlighted frequent assessment, political interference, junk food, television, compulsory schooling, distrust of teachers, and many other areas.[citation needed] Some suggested Forest schools and other adventure activities, while many proposed less political interference with schools.



Synonyms and variations[edit]


Slow movement[edit]

In his book Under Pressure: Rescuing Our Children From the Culture of Hyper-parenting,[3] Carl Honoré describes a measured and caring way of stepping back and letting our children face the world themselves. Parts of UP have been serialised[7][8] in the Daily Telegraph. The author has previously written about the Slow Movement in his book In Praise of Slow.




Conscious Parenting[edit]

In her book Conscious Parenting: Mindful Living Course for Parents,[9] Natasa Nuit Pantovic describes the negative social aspects of modern technologies that discourage any other play or activity.[10]

Within her Conscious Parenting Book explaining the importance of Free Play Nuit says: “Children learn intuitively, perceiving the subtle inner relationships observing nature. Free creative play is an invaluable gift that children need to start properly relating to the outside world. Exploring, experiencing and imitating the world of grown-us through free play, children are given a chance to unconsciously learn and emotionally mature through their own games. Too much of today’s learning is structured, children are ‘directed’, ‘instructed’ and carefully ‘followed’ at all times, so they do not have a chance to experience learning through unobstructed observation. Children have deep devotion to life and this devotion is beautifully expressed through the free play.”.[11][12] The author has previously published 5 Mindfulness Books within Serial called: Alchemy of Love Mindfulness Training.

Nuit researches and supports the Finish educational model where schools testing and homework are discouraged and where competition is not emphasized.[13] In her article ‘Create Freedom in the Learning Environment’:[14] Nuit says: “Children need to feel our love at all times; our love gives them confidence that they are heard, that they are present, and that they matter. A warm, loving and gentle environment is absorbed unconsciously and it gives children a wonderful start to life.”

The idle parent[edit]

The Idle Parent[2] by Tom Hodgkinson in 2009 is an alternative to over-parenting. It has also been serialised in a newspaper column in the Daily Telegraph.[15] The central premise is that children can take care of themselves most of the time, and that the parents would be happier if they spent more time taking care of themselves too. Hodgkinson's idle parenting "does not refer to slobbing out or giving up, but rather to letting go, going with the flow, a wise and merry detachment. It is, in Alduous Huxley's phrase, an 'active resignation'."[2]:46 IP does not have to be costly: Many activities are free, such as lighting a fire; while others are cheap, such as buying 10-year-old video tapes from charity shops.


See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b Levine, Madeline (2006). The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage Are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids. Harper Collins. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-06-059584-5. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Hodgkinson, Tom (2009). The Idle Parent: Why Less Means More When Raising Kids. Hamish Hamilton. p. 233. ISBN 978-0-241-14373-5. 
  3. ^ a b c Honoré, Carl (2008). Under Pressure: Rescuing Our Children From The Culture of Hyper-Parenting. Orion. ISBN 978-0-7528-7531-6. 
  4. ^ Postman, Neil (1985). Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. USA: Penguin. ISBN 0-670-80454-1. 
  5. ^ Gill, Tim (2007). No fear: Growing up in a Risk Averse Society (PDF). Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-903080-08-5. 
  6. ^ "Modern life leads to more depression among children". The Telegraph. 12 September 2006. 
  9. ^ Pantovic, Natasa Nuit (2015). Conscious Parenting: Mindful Living Course for Parents. Artof4Elements. ISBN 978-99957-54-04-4. 
  10. ^ Pantovic, Natasa Nuit (March 2013). "Inspired or lost in the technology matrix". Malta Sunday Times. 
  11. ^ Pantovic, Natasa Nuit (2015). Conscious Parenting. Artof4elements Publications. ISBN 9789995754044. 
  12. ^ Pantovic, Natasa Nuit (May 2015). "The Importance of Rhythm, Intuition and Freedom". Artof4Elements. 
  13. ^ Pantovic, Natasa Nuit (April 2012). "Education of the Future". Malta Sunday Times. 
  14. ^ Pantovic, Natasa Nuit (July 2013). "Create Freedom in the Learning Environment". Malta Sunday Times. 