In this episode, Melisa walks through how to add a foreign language to your homeschool curriculum. She provides advice for multi-lingual households, as well as non-bilingual families who want to introduce a new language.

In this episode you will learn:
- How to incorporate a language into your curriculum the way a Waldorf school would.
- How to choose a primary language to teach first, if you are a multi-lingual household.
- How to introduce a new language.
- The importance of representing the language in culture and song.


Resources:
- Additional FREE Resources: https://www.waldorfessentials.com/resources
- Melisa Nielsen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/alittlegardenflower/featured
- Waldorf Essentials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waldorf_essentials/
- Waldorf Essentials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaldorfEssentials/

We stand in solidarity with our black families. I know as a white American, I am often faced with questions like "how do I tell my children about this?" or "how much is too much?" Generally I shield my children from much of the world. IF THEY WERE YOUNGER the answers I would give would be brief but to the point about the violence - with my youngest being 9, we took the conversation deeper. More in the video.

Race should not be an uncomfortable topic in your home. If you are white and struggling with how to approach it, know that you will screw up. It is ok. Keep going. Have the hard conversations. Draw on your own experiences. Be raw. Be an agent. Stand strong with those in need of comfort.

We have a page of resources on this topic here: https://melisa-nielsen.mykajabi.com/justice-for-all

Waldorf environments are often full of soft flowy silks, beautiful wooden toys, and watercolor paintings. What do you do when your home has none of those things and you want to create a beautiful Waldorf home? Join Melisa as she discusses the truth of Waldorf and how to create that beautiful feel without breaking the bank.

In this episode you'll learn:
- The importance of quality over quantity in Waldorf homes.
- How to create a balance between Waldorf toys and non-Waldorf toys.
- The value of creating this transition slowly.


Resources:
- Additional FREE Resources: https://www.waldorfessentials.com/resources
- Melisa Nielsen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/alittlegardenflower/featured
- Waldorf Essentials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waldorf_essentials/
- Waldorf Essentials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaldorfEssentials/

In this episode of The Agent or Object, Melisa tackles the common concern of whether or not boys can thrive in Waldorf. From sword play to climbing trees, she discusses how Waldorf education can truly connect with rambunctious boy energy. She also talks about the importance of getting enough movement and how rough play really is okay.

In this episode you’ll learn:
- Why the stereotype of Waldorf being too girly for boy energy is inaccurate.
- How boys can thrive in Waldorf.
- Tips for how to handle and direct rambunctious energy.
- The importance of rhythm and movement.

Resources:
- Additional FREE Resources: https://www.waldorfessentials.com/resources
- Melisa Nielsen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/alittlegardenflower/featured
- Waldorf Essentials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waldorf_essentials/
- Waldorf Essentials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaldorfEssentials/

Bedtime. From little ones who need many, many sips of water to older teens who sleep all day, Melisa digs into the importance of sleep and a solid bedtime. Listen as she walks through what bedtime routines might look like for different age groups. She provides personal stories filled with humor and advice on how to handle bedtime with children of various ages.

In this episode you will learn:
- The important role dinner time plays in getting your kids to bed.
- How to be firm with bedtimes
- What the appropriate bedtimes are by age.
- How to create quality time for older kids.
- Why it’s important to wake up before your children.


Resources:
- Additional FREE Resources: https://www.waldorfessentials.com/resources
- Melisa Nielsen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/alittlegardenflower/featured
- Waldorf Essentials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waldorf_essentials/
- Waldorf Essentials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaldorfEssentials/

Follow Melisa on a parenting journey through temperament. In this episode, Melisa works through the importance of, not only understanding your temperament but your child's as well. She helps you recognize your child's temperament and explains in detail how connecting with each type of temperament looks. In the end of the episode, she emphasizes just how important that connection is in parenting your child.

Imagine sitting on the edge of a boat in the middle of the vast ocean, or the edge of the Grand Canyon staring out into the depths of the canyon below. That feeling of awe and wonder at something so phenomenal is what Melisa talks about in this episode. She discusses how to instill that sense of wonder in the teenagers in your life (and in yourself).

In this episode you will learn:
- The importance of meeting your children where they are at.
- How to instill a sense of wonder in yourself and your teen(s).
- Tips for how to add more wonder to your days.

Resources:
- Additional FREE Resources: https://www.waldorfessentials.com/resources
- Melisa Nielsen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/alittlegardenflower/featured
- Waldorf Essentials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waldorf_essentials/
- Waldorf Essentials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaldorfEssentials/

Join Melisa for a conversation about digging deep and understanding the why behind the choices you make. During this episode, she shares her own journey becoming more conscious about her choices and how that can help you feel more comfortable and confident in yourself. She ends with a challenge for every listener to look inward and ask themselves why they make the choices they do and if that "why" is sufficient for them.

Resources:
- Additional FREE Resources: https://www.waldorfessentials.com/resources
- Melisa Nielsen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/alittlegardenflower/featured
- Waldorf Essentials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waldorf_essentials/
- Waldorf Essentials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaldorfEssentials/

2020 has been quite a year and in this episode, Melisa gets really vulnerable about how important it is to learn how to let go of things not suiting you and hold onto the good. Listen as she opens up to share what this year has looked like for her (both the good and the bad) and provides advice on what you can do when there are situations beyond your control.

In this episode you will learn:
-What you can do when you are in a situation beyond your control.
-How to distinguish what is worth holding on to versus letting go of.
-Tips for letting go of things not suiting you.

Resources:
- Additional FREE Resources: https://www.waldorfessentials.com/resources
- Melisa Nielsen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/alittlegardenflower/featured
- Waldorf Essentials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waldorf_essentials/
- Waldorf Essentials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaldorfEssentials/

Join Melisa as she discusses the importance of creating a solid homeschool plan for the coming year and explains precisely how to do it.

In this video you will learn:
-Why we start next school years planning in April (Northern Hemisphere) and September (Southern Hemisphere)
-Why Melisa laid out Planning for Peace the way she did.
-How to plan for a successful school year; for any grade.

Resources:
- Additional FREE Resources: https://www.waldorfessentials.com/resources
- Melisa Nielsen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/alittlegardenflower/featured
- Waldorf Essentials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waldorf_essentials/
- Waldorf Essentials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaldorfEssentials/