Sparkle Stories Blog
A home for Sparkle audio stories, crafts, recipes, and kind words!
Storybox Playlist: The Stories Behind Dry Gables
The Dry Gables Collections are a delightful and engaging series of stories about a Victorian town in South Dakota — but did you know the stories were constructed to help you better understand your child?
Story Support for Parents and Teachers
What makes Sparkle Stories ... Sparkle Stories? What makes us different than, say, children’s podcasts? or audiobooks? or Disney? or Netflix Kids?
The Mission of Sparkle
This week we are focusing on "What We Are Really Up To" over here at Sparkle. We're talking about the core of who we are and what we do: our mission.
Bauer Baby Hat DIY Tutorial
Whether you're nesting yourself or you know someone who is, this little hat is adorably sweet on a new baby. Follow the instructions in the Sparkle Craft Tutorial to get started!
Why Storytelling Is Way Better Than Lecturing Your Kids
There is an alternative parenting technique that is hardly new. It has been used since our species could speak, and it is not only effective, it is delightful: storytelling. We are wired for it — literally. The neuroscience is conclusive — we use stories to build our realities and make sense of them.
Sparkle Kitchen: Birthday Pancakes
These birthday pancakes are a great way to kick off the next special day in your family. The recipe isn't extraordinary — just basic pancakes — but, by using a squeeze bottle to make notes or drawings in the batter, you can make these pancakes an extra-fun birthday morning surprise.
Storybox Playlist: Sparkle Mission — What are We Really Doing?
We believe that stories are not only powerful but are truly the language of children.
Friday's Kind Words: A Smooth Transition from Screens
Your podcast has made the transition from being a TV family to being a (mostly) screen-free family so smooth because he LOVES the podcast.
Raising Strong Girls: Resource List
I asked the Sparkle Team to share their favorite books and resources for raising strong girls, and together they created a wonderful list! We want to share it with you.
Air Dry Clay Trinket Dishes
This air dry clay trinket dish project is one of my favorite kinds of art, because the process allows for such creativity, but the end product is still quite beautiful. Like all artistic endeavors, however, it takes a bit of experimentation to perfect your technique.
Sparkle Kitchen: Raspberry Friands
Made in a mini-muffin tin, these raspberry friands are both the perfect size and have just the right amount of whimsy to travel along on a good fairy quest.
Storybox Playlist: Tell a Tale About Strong Girls
Here are some stories of strength — all with women or girls at their centers.
Favorite Parenting Tool: The Nurtured Heart Approach
The Nurtured Heart Approach was built for spirited, intense kiddos. It’s all about relentlessly energizing the positive while declining to engage in the negative. And it’s very, very straightforward and satisfying to use.
Friday's Kind Words: All the Magical Places
Thanks to Sparkle Stories and David, our daughter Lyla has finally landed on her first decision of what she wants to be when she grows up: a storyteller. ~Katie
sparkle craft: scribbled tea cups
Follow the steps in this kid-friendly tutorial for a fun family project- creating your own scribbled tea cups that kids can decorate themselves!
sparkle kitchen: quinoa chicken nuggets
This week's recipe — which would be a lovely lunch for either a snow day or a President's Day holiday from school — is an allergy-friendly take on chicken nuggets. Using quinoa instead of breadcrumbs on the outside of the nuggets makes them gluten-free so everyone can enjoy them.
The Nurtured Heart Approach (and Junkyard Tales stories for Parents!)
In the fall, I came across a parenting tool that deeply inspired me. It's called the Nurtured Heart Approach.
New Story Collection: For the Love of Spice: Georgia Bean's Method for Minding Mice
How does Georgia Bean manage to love and care for so many mice? Even the most spirited, "spicy" ones?
Storybox Playlist: Parenting With Heart
Here are some stories that model parenting — with heart.
Make Valentine's Day Your Own
What makes you feel the most lit up, abundant, and love-filled? Whatever that is, do it — because it will spill over into everyone around you.
