No Strollers

GM. #NoStrollers parenting has been the focus of this page and will remain so but going forward I will be adding several other parenting foci that have had profoundly positive and important impacts on my children and family. 1. *Socratic dialogue*. Thanks to Michael Strong @flowidealism for showing the way here and helping our family wield this proven, powerful, free educational (and relationship building) too. Shout out to Socrates, too. I will be sharing clips and links to the YouTube page that Michael and my now 12 year old daughter have been building since Alana was 3.5 demonstrating the what, why, how, and IMPACT of Socratic dialogue. Here is the Michael-Alana YT, and a recent representative clip is attached. @socraticmichaelstrong?si=xu2BtE5GCMXT-s_s" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@socraticmicha… 2. *Early Childhood Literacy*. If you are unaware, literacy levels in the USA are deplorable. The 'reading gap' is an active tragedy mentally crippling more than half of the young people in America. As a parent to be I was determined my child would be a a strong and early reader. Drawing upon my time as a volunteer reading tutor to 4th and 5th graders (!!) In San Diego, I composed alternate lyrics to the ABC song about how to read (the mechanics of reading), dubbed 'The Secind Verse to the ABCs.' My wife and I sang this verse to our children as often or more than any other kids song. We sincerely believe the 'Second Verse' strongly contributed to our children reading and comprehending chapter books by age 4. Reading well at a young age opened the world for them, as it did for me as a child. Almost nothing matters more than fostering a love of learning and strong reading skills at a young age. I hope you will sing and widely share the Second Verse. A few years ago I published a children's book of the same title featuring child-led Socratic dialogue to teach reading, and I will be sharing that as well (foreword by @MarkVHansen -- ty again Sir -- and afterword by Michael Strong). A soft cover version is available on Amazon and I have a couple hundred original hardcovers available too (DM me if interested). In the meantime, teach and sing the Second Verse to children! 3. *Healthy Kids Food". We raised children whose default is enjoy healthy foods including liver and sardines. I'll be sharing some of what worked for us. And yes I am anti-goldfish. Finally, don't forget that strollers (and mental strollers aka tablets) are suboptimal and deprive children of an enormous amount of invaluable time in the stream of life. Abandon them! Thank you for your interest and I hope you will share this post. Aloha. #homeschool #ParentingTips #parenting #socratic #socraticdialogue #newborn #toddlers #readingcommunity #literacy #kindergarten

Yes. It is easy, and fun, and you'll learn more about your child rhis way than anything else

@realsashastone Yes

You should not put your kids in daycare. Their time as babies is short. It goes by quickly. There is nothing that should take priority over raising your babies. My daughter spent one day in daycare and cried the whole time. Preschool comes fast enough, elementary school...

@smalltown_wife @moriah_bridges @beyondwaiting I believe in you, you can do it! In any event, congrats to you for being a trooper getting your kids out in life

@strollerno @moriah_bridges @beyondwaiting I have a 2yo and a 3yo that combined weigh over 75 lbs. there ain’t no way I (a 110 lb female) am carrying both of those gigantic kids at once. they love to walk when we go places but not when we are walking long distances! I also love to walk for at least an hour every day

The stroller debates are really just highlighting different lifestyles. “Just make your kids walk!” The point of this walk was for Mama to get some exercise, so… “My wagon was a waste of money because I never use it.” I’m guessing you don’t have a zoo membership.

@lustrouscrow_05 @0xgaut Early childhood literacy matters much more than strollers, please sing amd share The Second Verse to the ABCs!!! Onward to Anything!!!

@strollerno @0xgaut I appreciate your reply. I like the intent, but I’m not giving up a stroller. I’ll check out the other ideas. 👍

one day you’re 25 and the next you’re getting sorted into one of the four stroller houses for your baby

I'm agnostic to regular/scheduled nap theory but we did not prioritize naps possibly due to a highly variable work/life schedule. No Strollers made my kids really tired and ravenously hungry. They slept hard when/where possible and devoured the healthy foods we packed. Worked for us. Good luck on your journey.

@strollerno @dclisa01 @moriah_bridges @beyondwaiting In my experience, this leads to short, unrestful naps for toddlers; my kid will not nap more than 30 mins being held, and really needs at least 90 mins for sanity. She needs to stretch out and be less disturbed

@JMDucksworth I used a crown royal bag clipped to a carrier or my waist. In colder climes maybe something larger is needed idk

Diaper bag discourse: "You don't need a diaper bag, just use your purse." Me: "You don't need a purse." WHAT NOW HMMM?

You are a trooper!! Great job. The Pamphlet acknowledges that twins, 3 kids, and other instances make No Strollers tough. As I have no personal experience in your situation I cannot advise. I did however pray for twins specifically so I could No Stroller them and be able to respond to this common criticism of my pov but alas it was not in the cards.

@strollerno @moriah_bridges @beyondwaiting How would you manage this 5 mile walk? Winter, muddy, possible rain. One adult, F, 5’6. They’re all under 2. You have a baby in a carrier, a picnic, coats and a changing bag. The twins get tired. What’s the strategy? (This was a normal day out, we did similar 2/3 times a week)

@audreystayshome @beyondwaiting Kudos for minimizing the stroller.

@beyondwaiting Ah yes, the 30 minutes or so they’re in the stroller definitely outweighs the rest of the time we’re together 😂

What I’m getting from the “No strollers” pamphlet is that people only use strollers so they don’t have to engage with their children or let their children engage with the world. Which is… quite an assumption.

My observation is that many parents prioritize ease and perceived convenience over doing what's optimal for their children's development (more engagement with the world). Strollers are one example. Tablets are another. The No Strollers philosophy is about actively avoiding things and choices that insulate children from life. Appreciate your comment and perspective.

@dclisa01 @moriah_bridges @beyondwaiting Its not an exception. We were young parents, my wife was alone and used a stroller on two occasions. Part of her learning curve. She took the kids to theme parks and the Zoo solo no strollers dozens of times after.

@strollerno @moriah_bridges @beyondwaiting Also wondering, what's the difference b/w using a stroller at Disney and using one in the city when you're out all day/doing school pick up for older/public transit/naps? Why is there an exception for Disney?

@dclisa01 @moriah_bridges @beyondwaiting Yes. Lots of carrying.

@strollerno @moriah_bridges @beyondwaiting No Strollers, I am curious if there is a car in your mix. I would argue a tired small child "checking out of discomfort" in a stroller so the older one can continue an activity is better than everyone just going home bc baby needs to nap. You would hold the sleeping baby?

@JoelWBerry Well put. Awesome!!

Trying to explain the joys of parenthood to someone without kids is like trying to describe a sunrise to a man blind from birth

Been dropping memes and the No Strollers Pamphlet into various I heart stroller threads. I am told I obviously don't have children, must be a sedentary stay at home type, that tablets are awesome for kids, that kids can't walk or scoot (scooter) longer than half an hour, it's impossible to carry toddlers, and the Zoo is no go without a wagon. Wild. Thanks Elon!!

@MrsCMFrancis A crown royal bag clipped to my belt or carrier worked for me in San Diego. A few diapers, wipes, medium boiled eggs, king oscar sardines, avocado, fruit, pocket knife, spoon, had me sorted for all day missions.

A diaper backpack is a must. Usually less for the baby and more for the toddler/mom snacks. But also I stopped using it asap after each kid cause I hate lugging huge bags around 🙃

@dissidentvibes @fountaingirll Congrats on 5 kids! Amazing

@strollerno @fountaingirll Yeah. Got 5 children aged between 1-8 have you? Try your theories then! As for effects of screen time in childhood, utter bollocks. I watched 6-8 hours of TV/video games as a kid. Retired at 46, while the anti-screen brigade suck up their working week.

Yes my son is screen free and yes we still like to go out to eat. We exist!! (my son is sitting on the table banging the salt and pepper shakers together and we have to take turns to eat)

@russetjane @mollyfleck @beyondwaiting Good luck on your journey. The long-term value to my children of maximizing their time in the Stream of life has proven invaluable.

@strollerno @mollyfleck @beyondwaiting This is nuts, some kids will scooter for 2 minutes and then crap out and now you’re dragging a toddler and a scooter, wishing you also had your stroller

One time I was carrying my two sleeping children, both scooters helmets and a food bag and someone drove by and said hey bro just got a stroller lol. Comes with the territory with the long-term value of maximizing children's time in the Stream of life has proven invaluable. Good luck on your journey

@beyondwaiting @mollyfleck Their endurance grows as they grow. Lots of caring to be sure throughout the process. Good luck to you on your journey

@strollerno @mollyfleck I don’t consider those two things interchangeable. My kids love their balance bikes, but lose interest after about 1/4 mile of booking it down our dirt driveway. I can’t imagine asking a 2yo to sustain that for any legitimate length of time.

@mr_sanford_lyl @mollyfleck @beyondwaiting I've carried two children and two scooters and two helmets and a Food Bag numerous times. Comes with the territory

@strollerno @mollyfleck @beyondwaiting Wait til your kid refuses to scoot herself anymore and you’re a half mile from your apartment and need to pull the scooter the whole way. The stroller is the only way to ensure a quick trip from A to B

@dissidentvibes @fountaingirll Suggest you read the abundance of literature about the negative effects of screen time on children, my suggestion is that in public they should be engaged in life and not screens. Good luck

@strollerno @fountaingirll Frankly, I couldn’t give a hoot about the effects of screen time on children. What I do care about is the effects of my 5 children on our marriage. If I have to hypnotise them with screens when we go out to eat, better that than we cannot even eat our meals let along speak.