Simplicity Parenting
Book Review: Simplicity Parenting – A Gentle Guide to Creating a Calm and Joyful Home
Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne felt like a warm, reassuring conversation—one that affirmed so much of what I already knew in my heart while gently guiding me toward even deeper intentionality. Before reading it, I had already embraced many of the principles Payne discusses. For example, I had implemented a toy library in our home, rotating toys so my children wouldn’t feel overstimulated or overwhelmed by too many choices. I really tried to not take to many toys into our house to begin with or over schedule our families time adults and kids alike. But reading this book gave me a fresh perspective and a deeper understanding of how simplifying our home, schedules, and even our media intake can create a more peaceful, connected family life.
Less Clutter, More Imagination
Payne beautifully explains how fewer toys lead to deeper play. I’ve seen this firsthand with my own children—every time we clean up and the room is fresh and free of clutter it invites them to hours of play. This book was a great reminder to keep curating our space, making sure it fosters play and connection rather than distraction and overwhelm.
Simplifying Schedules: The Beauty of White Space
Another takeaway was the importance of not overscheduling our kids. In a world where busyness is often mistaken for success, it’s easy to feel like we need to enroll our kids in every activity, but Payne reminds us that children need free time just as much as structured time. This resonated with me deeply, especially as I homeschool and try to create a rhythm that balances learning with rest and creativity. It also meant me implementing more free play-time in our everyday homeschool life.
Decluttering Screen Time & Media
Although I’ve always been mindful about screen time, this book really encouraged me to go a step further—to protect childhood from the constant noise of the outside world. Payne speaks about the subtle yet profound impact of media on children’s sense of security, and it made me even more committed to creating a home filled with storytelling, music, and real-life experiences rather than screens. Mathilde has been enrolled in a ton of different online classes over the years and this book gave the last nudge to unroll her from the last weekly one — we might enroll in online learning again at some point — but I am not even looking back it was a true relief.
Stop the talk
My biggest takeaway was to declutter my own words — as a homeschool mom I tend to talk and talk and talk some more in teaching and in everyday life. I am a natural talker and I kind of just fill up the world with words when ever there is a silent minute in out house hold. This book had me stop and make spaces for my kids and husband to talk to — my daughter is now telling me so much more about her thoughts and life, and I love it. I think, I sometimes drown my kids in explanations and words, and this book really changed me for the better in that sense.
Final Thoughts: A Book I’ll Keep Coming Back To
Simplicity Parenting isn’t just about tidying up toys or cutting down on TV-time—it’s about creating a family culture that nurtures connection, peace, and presence. It’s a book I’ll return to whenever I need a reset, a gentle nudge to slow down, and a reminder that less really is more when it comes to childhood.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by modern parenting pressures or wondered if a simpler, slower childhood is possible, I highly recommend this book. It’s practical, grounding, and deeply affirming.
Have you read Simplicity Parenting? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
