In today's story:
Every year when the trees have all lost their leaves and the ground starts to frost in the morning, brother and sister start to make their lanterns for their annual lantern festival. This year they can't go their normal route and need to choose another place to walk. When Martin suggests going next door to visit the doctor's house, Sylvia worries that it will be too dark. But the magic of the evening shows her just how much can be seen with the light of a single lantern.
*This story is the subject of our conversation with Susan Weber, Director of Sophia’s Hearth Family Center. The story gives guidance on how to model a festival life for our children.*
About SparkleCast:
SparkleCast explores the use of story in parenting and education. One week we share a free story for you to enjoy, and the next week we discuss the story with an expert and thought leader – with the aim of using the story (and all stories) as a parenting and educational tool.
For more stories and tutorials, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com
Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com
Enjoy!
Meredith Markow is a teacher, Enneagram and Living Inquiries certified practitioner, and the Sparkle Schoolhouse “Head of School”! In this episode of SparkleCast, Meredith, David, and Rebecca talk about Sparkle Schoolhouse and how the Dry Gables story series can be used to better understand your child: their fears, their desires, their relationships, and how they prefer to be motivated.
About SparkleCast:
SparkleCast explores the use of story in parenting and education. One week we share a free story for you to enjoy, and the next week we discuss the story with an expert and thought leader – with the aim of using the story (and all stories) as a parenting and educational tool.
For more stories and tutorials, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com
Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com
Enjoy!
In today’s story:
When conflict comes to Dry Gables — when there are arguments, disagreements or blocks in the road to peace — the people of Dry Gables go to one place: Marta Bauer's bakery. Somehow she always knows what to make, what to say and how to listen — and conflicts simply... dissolve. This is truly tested one day when a family of Chinese immigrants arrives in Dry Gables and the town is divided about next steps. Some want to honor the restrictive law of the land and others wish to welcome them with open arms. What to do? Get the baker.
*This story is the subject of our conversation with Meredith Markow, teacher and therapist – and “Head of School” for Sparkle Stories. The story demonstrates how to listen, how to empathize, and how to resolve conflict in a gentle way.*
About SparkleCast:
SparkleCast explores the use of story in parenting and education. One week we share a free story for you to enjoy, and the next week we discuss the story with an expert and thought leader – with the aim of using the story (and all stories) as a parenting and educational tool.
For more stories and tutorials, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com
Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com
Enjoy!
Renee Jain is one of the nation’s most respected childhood happiness and resilience experts. Renee is the founder and Chief Storyteller at GoZen! She uses her many talents, specialized education, and business acumen in pursuit of her life’s mission: To provide whole-brain education to children three years of age and older, regardless of where they live or of their family’s socioeconomic background. In this conversation, Renee, David, and Rebecca discuss what it is like to be fearful and anxious and how to use stories to change perspectives and bring peace and confidence to anxious children.
About SparkleCast:
SparkleCast explores the use of story in parenting and education. One week we share a free story for you to enjoy, and the next week we discuss the story with an expert and thought leader – with the aim of using the story (and all stories) as a parenting and educational tool.
For more stories and tutorials, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com
Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com
Enjoy!
In today's story:
The people of Solvei’s village mark the end of the growing season and the beginning of the dark time with a yearly festival. In this joyful celebration, the villagers dress as dragons that represent the things they fear. Solvei is too young to attend, but is so excited that she sneaks a peek on the night of the festival — and comes home with many different fears from the “dragons” that she saw there. Her mother explains that she has taken on “someone else’s dragon” and then helps her daughter give the fears back so she can fall peacefully asleep.
*This story is the subject of our conversation with Renee Jain, founder and chief storyteller for GoZen.com, an online anxiety relief resource for children around the world. The story gives a picture of how scary images or sounds can make children fearful and anxious – and models how to release those images as well the anxiety and fear.*
Sensei Jonathan Hewitt is the co-author of “Life Ki-do Parenting: Tools to Raise Happy Confident Kids from the Inside Out” and founder of Life Ki-do Martial Arts and Life Education in Austin, Texas. In this conversation Jonathan, David, and Rebecca talk about body awareness and how use stories and images to help our children calm down, relax, and be present.
About SparkleCast:
SparkleCast explores the use of story in parenting and education. One week we share a free story for you to enjoy, and the next week we discuss the story with an expert and thought leader – with the aim of using the story (and all stories) as a parenting and educational tool.
For more stories and tutorials, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com
Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com
Enjoy!
In today's story:
It’s autumn: the days are getting shorter, and the dark comes earlier. Martin is feeling nervous. His eyes don’t work as well at night, and he worries about shadows and other things he can’t see. All of it makes it difficult for him to go to sleep at bedtime. Momma encourages him to use his other senses, and guides him through a hearing, smelling, and feeling exercise that not only reassures him, but relaxes him enough to fall deeply asleep.
*This story is the subject of our conversation with Jonathan Hewitt, founder of Life Ki-do Martial Arts and Life Education. The story models how we can calm our busy minds by relaxing and being present in our bodies.*
Dr. Carrie Contey is not your typical parenting expert. Her work offers a new perspective on children, parenting, family life, and being a healthy, happy, whole human being. In this conversation, Carrie, David, and Rebecca discuss how children can healthily experience their rich emotional lives and how parents can be present and guide their children without being “plugged in” to their experience.
About SparkleCast:
SparkleCast explores the use of story in parenting and education. One week we share a free story for you to enjoy, and the next week we discuss the story with an expert and thought leader – with the aim of using the story (and all stories) as a parenting and educational tool.
For more stories and tutorials, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com
Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com
Enjoy!
In today's story:
There was once a land far to the north that was held in healthy balance by a dragon and a unicorn. When the people of that land tried to control the dragon, the unicorn returned to the clouds and the people suddenly experienced what is was like manage pure power — the power of a dragon’s emotions.
This is a story about the big emotions that all children feel. It gives guidance on how to be both the dragon (emotional) and the unicorn (presence through the emotions) at the same time.
*This story is the subject of our conversation with Dr. Carrie Contey, parenting expert and columnist, about the big emotions that all children feel. The story gives guidance on how to be both the dragon (emotional) and the unicorn (presence through the emotions) at the same time.*
About SparkleCast:
SparkleCast explores the use of story in parenting and education. One we we share a free story for you to enjoy, and the next week we discuss the story with an expert and thought leader – with the aim of using the story (and all stories) as a parenting and educational tool.
For more stories and tutorials, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com
Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com
Enjoy!