Detoxing City Kids

I believe this will be the shortest post that I’ve written thus far, but I want to touch base on this so that you know what to expect should you decide to move from the city to the country with young children or teenagers.

You will not be the only one to detox and believe me when I say it could take upwards of a year to see your children grow in outdoor independence if they aren’t already the types who enjoy being out in the dirt and sun. One of the great difficulties with moving out into the boonies is that both cell phone service and internet is absolutely spotty.

A few months before moving, you should start to wean you children off technology and transfer that energy to doing more book reading, drawing, gardening, archery, and other outdoor activities. You need to sit your children down and explain not only why you are moving but what changes and challenges will face them with the move.

Depending on the age of the child, books they can begin reading should revolve around identifying local snakes, poisonous plants & mushrooms, dangerous insects and other subjects. This is designed to strengthen their mind and keep them safe once they move into the country. You should continue their training even after you have moved. Not only will this be good for them, but it will be good for you and your partner as well.

When you do move, understand that your children may be hesitant to explore their surroundings at first and need your encouragement to do so. Be sure to take small walks on your property so you can show them their boundaries and create scenarios for things that could happen on the property, then suggest what steps they should take to mitigate the dangers.

If you do not start detoxing the children, then both you and they will struggle with withdrawal symptoms and there’s nothing you can do but walk through this time in compassion and understanding. Be sure to provide them with outside items like swing set, tennis racket set/net, archery set, nerf guns, bicycles and scooters.

Happy homesteading to you and yours!