Sparkle Stories Blog

It's GOOD for us to work with our hands. Creative hand-work pursuits bring out the best in us and free our minds and spirits. Plus, when kids learn to cook, or knit, or sew, or build, they also grow a foundation of capableness and confidence. There's nothing like knowing you can DO for yourself and others.

I think we should go old-school this year. Unstructured, play-filled, low-tech, outdoor-exploring summertime. Bike riding, back yard playing, free to roam and explore and play — uninterrupted. We were bored. We were creative. We had lots of friend time. It wasn't always easy, but it was real. And we benefited from it!

I know you've seen it. You've watched children play "house" or "firemen" or "pirates," haven't you? Have you seen how they've had to work out dynamics, distribute roles, and collaborate in the creation of the play? ll of this gives them a chance to grow and expand their abilities as people.

Sensitivity can come in a variety of forms, from children who can't stand tags in their clothes to children who withdraw in stimulating environments. We sensitive people are a gift to the planet. Let me tell you why.

Nature is an effective remedy for just about everything — from crankiness to anxiety, from fatigue to malaise. I also think kids need daily nature time, even if it's a walk around the block. Nature is everywhere, from state parks to green things growing in the sidewalk cracks. But how to get your kiddos outside?

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.

Boredom. It can be teeth-grittingly uncomfortable, can't it? It can provoke all sorts of feelings from confusion to loss to despair. It can make a body squirmy and agitated. It inspires us to reach for ANYTHING to get out of that feeling. But boredom is valuable.

In this episode, Bryn, David, and Rebecca talk about the new story “New Brother/New Sister” – a story about a boy named Nathan who gets some important advice from a Tulip Tree elf about how to welcome his new sibling.

In this episode, Kim, David, and Rebecca use the Junkyard Tales story “Buster” to talk about what is traditionally called "teasing" and "bullying" and is a broader way of discussing "inclusion" and "exclusion."

This desire for rhythms of work and rest inspired the creation of Martin and Sylvia: Day of Rest. Through these stories, we have the gift of observing Martin and Sylvia’s family as they work through the process of setting apart one day each week to rest as a family.