Vanessa Jennings uses several parenting tips and tricks from way back in the 1980s and proudly shares them in an Instagram post she captions “Time to rewind 40 years.”
- She doesn’t buy them a lot of stuff - “Presents are for birthdays and Xmas. They just don’t need loads of toys and need to learn the value of being gifted something.”
- She teaches them resilience - Jennings writes that she was raised in New Zealand in the 80s and that “today’s snowflake generation would not know what hit them” if they grew up like that. “There are definitely winners & losers, it’s part of life,” she shares. “During my childhood there was a lot of love but if you weren’t bleeding profusely or you’d lost a limb, you were expected to just get on with it.”
- She seriously limits screentime - Her kids typically only get an hour on the weekend and she says that’s usually only when she has to get something done.
- No video games - This may be extreme to some parents, but this mom explains, “Between the TV/Netflix and the occasional use of tablets, that’s enough kids technology for me!”
- No smartphones - Her kids won’t be getting a phone when they turn 11 or 12. “The evidence is overwhelming,” she writes. “They’re so so damaging to the mental health and development of kids. And they’re addictive enough for us adults as it is.”
- She prefers that her kids don’t wear shoes outside - Jennings points out this may be related to her growing up in New Zealand, but she thinks “it’s important to be close to nature and feel the freedom of grass under your feet.”
- She lets them get bored - “If they don’t experience boredom, they don’t get the opportunity to be really creative,” she shares.
- She doesn’t stress over their eating habits - Jennings and her husband encourage their kids to try new things, but she realizes their taste buds are still developing and there’s plenty of time to expand their palates.
Source: Scary Mommy
Photo: Photoman195 / iStock / Getty Images