At Sunflower Creative Arts, we believe children learn best through play. In today's episode, Susan and Lindsey explore the interconnectedness of academic subjects such as science and math with sensory play experiences like blending paint colors or mixing homemade play dough.

The Sunflower Bridge Podcast is kindly sponsored by Switzer Musical Productions.

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Susan and Lindsey share stories from their years of teaching to illustrate why at Sunflower, we believe it's best not to make a habit of pushing your preschool-age child on the swing.

The Sunflower Bridge Podcast is kindly sponsored by Switzer Musical Productions.

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"You get to decide" is a common refrain at Sunflower Creative Arts. Though we draw from many schools of thought, we subscribe to no one ultimate method for early childhood education. We support you to follow your own heart.

In this episode, Susan and Lindsey discuss how the Sunflower framework is meant to serve as a foundation you can build upon in a way that works for you and your family. Ultimately, it is always up to you to decide what you want to leave behind and what you want to bring forward in your parenting.

The Sunflower Bridge Podcast is kindly sponsored by Switzer Musical Productions.

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Today we give you a re-play of Episode 10 of the podcast, featuring our first special guest, Stephanie Arsht.

We've brought you a new podcast almost every Monday this year and as we say farewell to 2023, we want to take a moment to say thank you for listening. Our hope is that this podcast serves as a small bright spot in your day - a moment just for you - a moment to take a breath and smile. 🙂

Make a gift of any size to our Full Bloom fundraising campaign before year’s end, and you'll receive a digital download of Sing Along With Sunflower, an album of Sunflower favorites featuring the podcast theme song and some originals by Sunflower Teacher Danielle Parker and myself. You’ll also receive Susan’s studio album, Lullabies in the Garden. Click here to make your contribution. 💛

It's never too young to begin sharing with children about the concept of money - what is it for? Why do we need it? How do we use it? Join Susan and Lindsey for a chat on how to address these questions and more in your own household.

To share your thoughts, feelings or stories about being with children, send us an email at [email protected] or message us on Instagram.

The Sunflower Bridge Podcast is kindly sponsored by Switzer Musical Productions.

To share or not to share?

You may be thinking, "Is that even a question?!"

In this podcast episode, Susan Caruso and Lindsey Mills discuss the hot topic of sharing: why at Sunflower Creative Arts, we approach it a bit differently than other schools, and how we've seen that when children are given the opportunity to truly have something before they are asked to share, they have a chance to develop authentic compassion and generosity.

To share your thoughts, feelings or stories about being with children with us, send us an email at [email protected], or find us on Instagram.

The Sunflower Bridge Podcast is kindly sponsored by Switzer Musical Productions.

There will always be conflict - in the world and in our lives. How can we meet that difficult truth with love? Susan and Lindsey share about how perhaps peace out in the world begins with compassion and understanding in our own hearts.

To learn more about Roots & Shoots, a service learning youth movement with chapters all over the world, visit rootsandshoots.org.

Have thoughts, feelings or ideas you'd like to share with us? We'd love to hear from you. Send us a message on Instagram or email us at [email protected].

The Sunflower Bridge Podcast is kindly sponsored by Switzer Musical Productions.

Today we’re bringing you an encore of Episode 22 of the podcast, where we talk about how leaning on encouragement rather than praise can greatly benefit your relationship with your child.

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22. Yes, You Can: Encouragement vs. praise

Why do we at Sunflower Creative Arts emphasize giving encouragement rather than praise? What's so wrong about saying 'Good job' anyway?

In this episode, Susan tells a powerful story about the time she watched a child learn how to climb the tallest ladder on the playground, providing gentle encouragement from a distance over several weeks before the little girl succeeded. Lindsey shares about how she helped a child expand his tree-climbing skills in an unconventional way.

The Sunflower Bridge Podcast is kindly sponsored by Switzer Musical Productions.

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Are you local to the Delray Beach area? If so, we’d love to see you this Saturday, Nov. 4 at our new annual Sunflower event, Eat, Play, Give! ✨

Or, no matter where you are in the world, you can help us ensure Sunflower will be in a strong position to nurture our children today and for the next 30 years with a contribution to our 30th Anniversary Full Bloom campaign. To make your gift, click here.

Joining Susan for a second time on the podcast today is Lora McCoy, her best friend since their children were born more than four decades ago. These two good friends sat down for another chat en plein air, this time tracing back 30 years to reminisce on the brilliant tapestry of Sunflower’s origin story.

Enjoying the podcast? Please subscribe to our feed wherever you listen so you'll never miss an episode! Your ratings and reviews also really help us get the word out. Thanks for listening.

- Bev Bos

- Haim Ginott's Between Parent and Child

- Learn more about our upcoming Eat, Play, Give celebration on Saturday, Nov. 4!

- Click here to make a gift to our 30th Anniversary Full Bloom campaign!

The Sunflower Bridge Podcast is kindly sponsored by Switzer Musical Productions.

Today's episode features interviews with members of Sunflower Creative Arts' staff and teachers in our Seedlings Preschool program. Susan Caruso continues our conversation from last week about chores, allowance and household duties.

The Sunflower Bridge Podcast is kindly sponsored by Switzer Musical Productions.