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008: How to Host a No-Presents Birthday

2018-02-19 Mama Minimalist

When it comes to toys, less is more. Researchers agree: time and time again, studies find that children are more imaginative and focused when surrounded by fewer toys.

This year, I’m throwing my daughter a party that’s heavy on fun and light on gifts. It’s a No-Presents Birthday.

As parents, it’s our job to fight back against the culture of consumerism that surrounds us. It’s on us to say enough is enough, because our kids have neither the wisdom nor the maturity to discern hype from reality. They need us to do it for them.

If you’ve ever thought about hosting a No-Presents Birthday for your child, this episode’s for you, because I reveal 8 alternatives to a present-heavy celebration. I also divulge the blueprint I’m following as I create my daughter’s own gift-free party.

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The Cost of Constant Connection

In this era of relentless connectivity, taking an exit ramp from our digital lives has never looked more inviting. In fact, emerging science is now confirming what many of us feel: Smartphones are draining our cognitive reserves, shattering our focus, and keeping us in a state of low-level chronic anxiety.

To see if there’s a better way, reporter Courtney Lindwall shelved her iPhone for a $45 Nokia flip phone. Courtney is on the show today to discuss the "dumb phone" movement, the logistical friction of navigating an app-dependent world, and why research says our brains are so desperate for a break.

Here's a preview:

[7:00] Continuous partial attention, instinctual muscle memory, and other ways in which our smartphones are working against us

[9:00] Gray scale? screen limits? Here's why the tools and tricks don't work for the vast majority of us

[14:00] Thoughts on our emotional attachments to our phones—and the emotional experiences they provide

[22:00] The psychological benefits of embracing a bit more "friction"

[33:00] Our brains are malleable, and we get used to a new normal quite quickly. Lean into that!

Resources mentioned:

How an old-school flip phone changed my life (via Consumer Reports)
This detox may erase 10 years of social media brain damage, researchers say (via The Washington Post)
The Brick phone access blocker device

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My Story

Hello there, I’m Stephanie. I live a crazy, beautiful life as a full-time wife, blogger + mother to two spirited daughters. I’m on a mission to simplify eco-friendly living so as to greater enjoy life’s sweeter moments.

Want to know more? Read my story.