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Focusing on the Value of Simplicity
Excerpts from
Living Values Activities for Children Ages 3-7
Simplicity
Ideas at Home for Parents of Children
Ages 3-7
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Simplicity - Living Values Activities for Children
Ages 3-7 
Excerpts from LVEP's Living Values Activities for Children Ages
3-7
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Explain: ?In the next few weeks we are going to learn about simplicity. Simplicity means valuing what is natural, what is simple. Today, I want you to think of things that are natural, things that you don?t have to buy. For example, simple pleasures in life could be enjoying a pretty flower, getting a hug from someone who loves you or hearing your mother sing.?
Activity: Instruct the children to draw or paint a picture of a simple pleasure in life ? or a simple thing that they enjoy. Simplicity Lesson: Appreciating Trees Discuss: Say, ?Two of the Simplicity Points are: Simplicity is beautiful and simplicity is natural. One thing that is beautiful and natural is a tree.? Talk about the beauty of nature and the importance of trees. For example, ?Trees give us wood for our houses, paper to write with, paper bags to carry things in, oxygen for breathing, and wood for fires so we can keep warm. Trees provide shelter for animals, too. They give humans food, too.? Ask:
Activity: Ask the children to pretend they are different kinds of trees. Go with the children to the playground or a park to enjoy the trees and collect different types of leaves. Alternatively, they can make leaves with paper and crayons or paint. Arrange for each child to take a turn stating what type of tree he or she is and what this tree gives to animals and humans. The children may want to wave their leaves around as they explain. Ask, ?As trees, do you have a message to give to humans?? Simplicity Lesson: Appreciating Nature Let?s think about water for a minute.
Continue the conversation with the natural things they bring up, ending with the note that nature provides us with simple but very important things. Activity: Do a task to help the environment, such as picking up trash from a river, or planting flowers.
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Simplicity
Excerpts from Living Values Parent Groups: A Facilitator Guide
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Allow your children to use things in the house to play creatively. Chairs and blankets make great indoor tents. Recycle things for play. For instance, an old inner tube from a large truck or tractor is great for back yard play -- to bounce on and roll around in. Containers from a fruit or vegetable stand can become trains, or ? Let the children play in piles of fallen leaves, or make a special play place outside. Save a box for discarded household items -- ?treasures? they can use in imaginary games. Recycle things in the house. Set up a place in your home where paper is recycled. They can use that to draw and fold. Enjoy making things yourself. Stringing together popcorn for the Christmas tree is a simple but fun tradition in some countries. In other countries, a decoration of colored paper which has been folded, shaped, and strung together is used. Be simple, natural, and economical. In the kitchen, ask the children to help you stir in nuts to make porridge or granola that is one-half the price of advertised cereals. Take nature walks with the children. Enjoy the beauty of the trees or of whatever form of nature is around you. Think about and share lessons nature offers us. Honor the earth in simple ways. Teach your children not to be ?litter bugs.? Never throw litter or rubbish on the ground, but place it in a garbage can or rubbish bin, or carry it back with you so it can be disposed of properly. Explain why we make extra effort not to litter. Let your children know their smiles are beautiful. Let your children know that their smiles give joy to others. Think of little rhymes together about simplicity and the beauty of nature. |
Excerpts
from Living
Values Activities for Children and Young Adults
and Simplicity
Ideas at Home for Parents of