Kody Hanner
This post may contain affiliate links where I earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Inspire Sufficient Kids This Year
Making the decision to raise sustainable kids
Raising sustainable kids should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind. We are always thinking about our children’s future, their education, careers, spouses, spiritual relationships, and even the earth or politics we are leaving them. But the rallying cry that I have heard over the last several years has been to provide our kids with the skills (and mindset) that we lost along with the grandparents who cultivated them. You can read more about giving your kids the skills we never had in a previous article I wrote. But until we break the cycle of relying on systems, having it be socially acceptable (expected) to eat food-like items, and turning to modern medicine before natural (for minor ailments and prevention), the continuance of an unsustainable culture is imminent.
Is a generation of sustainable kids a pipe dream?
The only way to truly make changes is to embrace the lifestyle ourselves while also instilling a love for it in our children. Having sustainable kids leads to sustainable adults. The problem is that we can not accomplish this in pocket groups of homeschooled families. It needs to be widespread food and medical policy changes. It needs to be every family and instructional institution acknowledging the impacts of screen time. It needs to be a public mental health re-evaluation of standards.
I wish there were cheesy assemblies at schools promoting growing your own food like DARE telling us to “just say no.” We could have a generation of kids going to tell their parents, “just bake bread?” Think it will catch on? Or is my dream of encouraging sustainable kids a pipe dream?
Empowering self-sufficient kids (and families)
In my own words, I said that changes won’t happen in small pockets, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. This year is potentially bringing widespread change for homeschool, homestead, food-freedom, medical-freedom, and overall “crunchy” families with the new administration. Some of these policies will be coming at the federal level through either law changes or restrictions/removal of overarching agencies.
Other changes will come from governance being handled at the state level for state policies as our constitution outlines. This will allow your vote to hold more weight on the policies that matter to you. Otherwise we are literally victims of taxation without representation.
This is going to give us so many opportunities to show our children that we can stand up for what we believe in and that it matters.
This will also give us clear path to raising sufficient kids without cultural backlash.
5 ways to inspire your Family towards Self-sufficiency
- Grow Something New – Challenge your kids to select and grow a new protein source (like chickens), fruit, vegetable, or herb this year. Let them experience (and manage) the entire process from seed to harvest.
- Learn a New Skill Together – Choose one self-sufficient skill to master as a family. Whether it’s beekeeping, cheesemaking, basic blacksmithing, the journey of learning together is invaluable.
- Reduce Reliance – I’m not suggesting you move off the grid (unless that’s the goal). Try identifying one area where your family can reduce reliance on
processed foods or external systems. Can you compost more? Raise backyard chickens? Explore local food sources.
- Connect with Nature – Spend more time outdoors as a family. Go camping, hiking, or simply spend evenings stargazing in your backyard. My favorite is gardening barefoot! Encourage a deeper appreciation for the land that provides for us.
- Empower Through Ownership – Give your children real ownership in a self-sufficient project. Let them choose and manage their own garden plot, raise a small flock of birds, or start a small business selling their homemade goods. This fosters responsibility, teaches valuable life skills, and instills a strong sense of accomplishment and confidence.
Remember, every small step forward counts.
Let’s raise a generation of resilient, resourceful, respectful, and God-fearing sufficient kids who are prepared to thrive in any circumstance.
What goals do you have to empower sufficient kids this year?
I can help!
Podcast
Book
Curriculum
In person workshops
Speaking events
Coaching
I can help!
Check out my podcast, products, and speaking events below to help you on the path of raising self-sufficient kids!
