Ep 29: How to Have Guilt-Free Quiet Time for Your Kids

Do you struggle with quiet time? Don't worry if you answered yes. This is an area I struggle too.

But, that all changes today. This episode is all about the importance of quiet time, why it is essential to your child’s well-being, and how to implement quiet time in your home without a fight.

Our guest today, shares how she keeps peace and quiet in her home while homeschooling her 5 kids and running a business with her sister. If she can have 2 hours of quiet time everyday in her home, she can show us how to do it too.

Dani Goeppert is a wild and happy mama of five, and married to (as she says) the handsomest of German men. She is originally from Canada but hasn’t lived there in over a decade. After moving to Germany in her early 20s, learning German and having five babies, her family packed up and moved near Kyiv, Ukraine. There they serve together with an international non-profit, and are currently conquering their next language - Russian. She dreams of one day being able to read Dostoevsky in the original.

She is passionate about growing wild happy families, inspiring mamas to step into their callings as co-creators and gives them tools to create more time, boost meaningful productivity and influence their communities with the power of relationships starting at the most important place - home.

And if you struggle with making your home peaceful or being consistent with quiet time, Dani shares all of her tips in her popular Stupid Simple Quiet Time System. I promise, it’s a good one.

This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will help you discover:

how to give your children toys that will not add junk to your home - this is a great way to satisfy grandparents too!
what open-ended toys have worked best for her family (even with a large age range of 5 kids)
where to start when you want to implement quiet time in your home
secrets to quiet time when your child will not play by themselves
Dani’s favorite simple pleasure this week and why it makes me want to implement her system right away

HIGHLIGHTS

[00:00] – This episode is brought to you The QUICK Way to Declutter and Organize Your Home. This 5 part mini-course will help you declutter, tidy, and organize any room in your home. Get started today!

[00:53] – Deanna welcomes listeners back to the show and explains that today’s guest is quiet time expert, Dani Goeppert.

[02:32] – Dani introduces herself and tells us about her big international family and how traveling has led to a life of minimalism.

[03:28] – Deanna connects with Dani on traveling and shares how traveling also led to minimalism for her family when they sold 90% of what they owned in 2014.

[04:15] – Dani discusses how stuff causes problems and emotionally burden you. And how we can use minimalism to evaluate if we really need the stuff we own. How does she think stuff affects her relationships with her children?

[05:15] – She speaks to how her life and minimalism has changed for her as her family has continued to grow. Plus, she drops an amazing rule for giving gifts to your kids.

[05:58] – Discover Dani’s favorite open ended toys for her kids. She says they will play for HOURS with these (this is the US version).

[07:00] – Deanna joins in and talks about how elementary school friends are contributing to the toys her daughter wants - especially now with Zoom playdates. How can you balance what to buy and what to keep out of your home?

[07:51] – Dani shares this crazy idea that having your kids around all the time makes you more productive. Find out what she means and how to get in on that action.

[10:02] – If you are overwhelmed by the volume level in your home, Dani gives you her secrets for handling ALL the noise and chaos that comes with 5 kids so that she can stay sane and be the best mama for her family. (hint: the secret is quiet time)

[11:02] – Dani drops an awesome truth bomb on us. Seriously, this is some of the best stuff I have heard in a while so don’t miss it.

[12:31] – If you struggle with getting your children to play by themselves or have quiet time, Dani breaks down the process for us and shows us where to start with Anchor Points. It’s a sanity-saver for us time-starved moms. She also has an amazing course called Stupid Simple Quiet Time for those of you who are ready to take back control of your homes and time.

[13:15] – How does Dani implement quiet time in her own home ?

[13:34] – Dani shares the #1 reason most moms struggle with implementing quiet time and it has nothing to do with your kids.

[15:15] – What does Dani do during her quiet times everyday? Don’t be surprised if you’re a little envious.

[16:06] – What do you do if you have babies and older kids? Will quiet time work for them at the same time?

[16:46] – Deanna states the obvious thanks to Dani giving us all permission to implement quiet time.

[16:59] – How and why Dani sees quiet time as a gift for children.

[17:53] – What to do if you are the mom who has tried quiet time before and it just hasn't worked. Dani reveals her top tricks that will work for different ages. This is a good hack for toddlers before they can tell time.

[22:18] – Dani tells us what she would do if she were starting her minimalism journey from the beginning today knowing what she knows now.

[23:09] – Where can you find Dani online including her freebies for mamas, kids, or to learn more about her Stupid Simple Quiet Time System?

[25:53] – What has been Dani’s favorite simple pleasure this week?

[26:13] – What is the best advice about minimalist that Dani has ever received?

[26:57] – And finally, what is making Dani happy right now?

[28:25] – Deanna circles back to Dani’s life changing system of giving your kids and you as a busy mama Quiet Time. Honestly, it’s so worth checking it out.

[30:53] – Don’t forget to pick up your free copy of the Minimalist Starter Kit for Families. It’s the perfect resource to help you on your journey to living your best life with less stuff. And remember that she loves hearing from listeners, so please get in touch by email at hello@littlegreenbow.com or by sending a message on Instagram (@Little.Green.Bow) or on Facebook (@LittleGreenBow)!

[27:40] – Don’t forget to pick up your free copy of The QUICK Way to Declutter and Organize Your Home. It’s the perfect resource to help you on your journey to living your best life with less stuff. And remember that she loves hearing from listeners, so please get in touch by email at hello@littlegreenbow.com or by sending her a message on Instagram (@WannabeClutterFree) or on Facebook (@WannabeClutterFree)!