We Nurture: Waldorf Inspired Parenting

I wrote this story to help children who have a fear of weather, particularly dark clouds, rain, and storms. My hope is that it will offer a sense of courage and triumph. It’s also just a sweet story to listen to again and again.

Written by Chinyelu Kunz

We recommend this story for ages 3 to 6

To discover more about please visit wenurturecollective.com/stories-for-children

One spring, The Three Billy Goats Gruff wanted to go to the mountains and eat sweet mountain grass. To get to the mountains they had to cross a bridge and under that bridge there lived a troll. The first to cross was little billy goat gruff, then medium sized billy goat gruff then big billy goat gruff. Each billy goat had to meet up with the troll before they could get to the mountains to eat sweet mountain grass.

Traditional Folktale retold

We recommend this story for Ages 4 - 7

To discover more about please visit wenurturecollective.com/stories-for-children

This story was written by Susan Perrow and is a therapeutic story. Children will enjoy it whether it is used for therapeutic reasons or not. This story has been used by families of children aged four to seven to help give a sense of stability in times of transition. On the farm of Farmer "Just Right' everything has its place and function. There is also delicious mud play in the story, which could help a child who doesn't like to get dirty to take a few more risks - the story encourages getting muddy but with the promise of being able to clean up afterwards."

We recommend this story for Ages 4 - 7

Therapeutic Storytelling by Susan Perrow

Published by Hawthorn Press

To discover more about please visit wenurturecollective.com/stories-for-children

Transforming How We Communicate with Our Child 

Episode 15: Show Notes.

Today I am joined again by Stephen Spitalny to talk about communicating with young children and simple ways to transform this for the better. Stephen is a teacher at the Santa Cruz Waldorf School and is the author of three books and numerous articles on the subject of early childhood. He has also hosted a number of workshops and courses all over the world! Stephen has joined me for a series of conversations and today we delve into talking about communicating with a young child and the best ways to approach this. Stephen unpacks the five steps that he offers for effective and healthy communication, going through speaking less, speaking slowly, speaking the truth, using the word 'but' sparingly, and positive use of the word 'no'. After unpacking each of these important aspects we move on to the related topics of healthy boundaries, creating real freedom for a child, praise, and learning through imitation. A big takeaway from today's conversation and one that we underline at the end is the need for transformation within the adult, and the somewhat obvious responsibility we have when setting an example for children. So for all of these helpful and inspiring thoughts, be sure to join us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The idea of speaking less and why to think about using fewer words when communicating something important. 
• Speaking slowly and allowing children the time to process what is said. 
• Practices around speaking the truth and leading by example in this regard.
• Why Stephen recommends avoiding the word 'but' as much as possible.
• The use of the word 'no'; creating safe and healthy boundaries for children.
• Creating true freedom and allowing children to exercise creativity within a framework. 
• Stephen's thoughts on the best ways to communicate with children around achievement. 
• Leading by example when trying to help children learn good behaviors and manners. 
• Creating good habits by allowing children to learn through imitation.
•  A final message from Stephen about the necessary transformation within the adult. 

   Stephen Spitalny's Books

 -Conscious Parenting: A Guide to Living with Young Children

- Connecting with Young Children: Educating the Will

- What's the Story? Storytelling with Young Children as a Path Toward Living Happily Ever 

    After

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

LifeWays North America

Stephen Spiltany

Stephen Spiltqny on Twitter

Santa Cruz Waldorf School

Conscious Parenting: A Guide to Living with Young Children on Amazon

Website

Instagram

This week's story is a therapeutic story written for a child needing support for a move specifically a move because of a divorce or separation.

Herbie the Hermit Crab enjoys his happy, simple life at Sandy Point.  This is the story of Herbie looking for a new home and the power of friendship.

Written by and told by Molly Brett

Ages 3-7

Why Learning Through Imitation is Significant to Child Development

Episode S3E14: Show Notes.

Learning through imitation is significant to childhood development, but children don’t choose which examples to imitate, which can create challenges for parents and teachers. Today we sit with Stephen Spiltany, an influential teacher and author in the Waldorf education space. In this episode Stephen serves as a guiding voice, sharing details on why children imitate, how their imitations aren’t based on virtue but rather the result, and ways parents and teachers can cultivate methods that’ll lead to constructive imitation. We begin the show by hearing why it is crucial to understand the role of imitation for young children. After understanding that imitation is the primary way young children learn, Stephen tells us why children sometimes imitate the worst parts of their parents. Although adults can make themselves into better humans through their own decision-making processes and efforts, children don’t have the neurological development to achieve this. Stephen tells us that it’s the mindfulness and awareness of teachers and parents that can help children imitate positively. He goes on to detail how teachers and parents can create change in the imitation habits of children, but reminds listeners that change is an eventual outcome and cannot be made after one lesson. To hear more about child development through imitation, tune in with us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing our returning guest, Stephen Spiltany.
• Why it is crucial to understand the role of imitation for young children.
• How seeing children imitate the worst parts of a parent can be triggering for the parent.
• Why “autopilot” mode is often the example parents offer to their children.
• The importance of developing yourself as a parent or teacher.
• Why imitation is so significant from a developmental perspective.
• How habits become ingrained in children.
• Why children can’t learn a new habit the first time around.
• How to cultivate better practices to encourage new, better imitations from children.

    Stephen Spitalny's Books

 -Conscious Parenting: A Guide to Living with Young Children

- Connecting with Young Children: Educating the Will

- What's the Story? Storytelling with Young Children as a Path Toward Living Happily Ever  

    After

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

LifeWays North America

Stephen Spiltany

Stephen Spiltqny on Twitter

Santa Cruz Waldorf School

Books by Stephen Spitalny

Conscious Parenting: A Guide to Living with Young Children on Amazon

Website

Instagram

Once upon a time, long long ago in China there was a boy named Ping. Ping loved flowers and anything he planted would bloom.

The Emperor of the land loved flowers too. The time came when the Emperor had to choose an heir and this was a difficult choice. The Emperor gave a flower seed to each child and “said “Whoever can show me their best in a year's time," he proclaimed, "shall succeed me to the throne!"

Ping plants his seed and takes care of it every day. Month after month passes, and nothing grows and when the time comes, Ping must go to the Emperor with nothing but an empty pot.

Story adapted from original ‘The Empty Pot’ by Demi

Ages 3 to 7

To discover more about please visit wenurturecollective.com/stories-for-children

Today’s guest, Stephen Spiltany, has taught at the Santa Cruz Waldorf School since 1990. He offers courses and workshops worldwide, especially in Asia. He is also a parent and a grandparent and he has written three books and numerous articles about early childhood. In today’s episode, we go further into the development of young children as they discover and explore their awareness of self. Stephen takes us through what an undeveloped awareness of self is, with a comparison between that of an adult and that of a young child we broach the topic of the development of self, how we can recognize the sure signs of our child’s journey of discovering their sense of self, and he explains the concept of interoception. Stephen also shares with listeners about finding the balance between loving firmness and the appropriate distribution of autonomy, and the reasons why a developing child is unable to self-direct. Tune in today for all this and so much more, as we dive into this big topic on the essential aspects in creating connection and supportive development for our child. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Stephen describes an undeveloped awareness of self in the adult versus the young child.
• What helps us recognize that our child's sense of self is burgeoning: the arc of development.
• How to consciously and kindly nurture your child's developing sense of self.
• How the adult state of consciousness differs from that of a child; the dream consciousness.
• Developing the sense of self and giving your child the option to “choose.
• Stephen shares some insights into finding the balance of loving firmness.
• How developing yourself as an adult will flow over and benefit your child.
• How being mindful and present is an important practice as you observe your child develop.

 Stephen Spitalny's Books

- Conscious Parenting: A Guide to Living with Young Children

- Connecting with Young Children: Educating the Will

- What's the Story? Storytelling with Young Children as a Path Toward Living Happily Ever After

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

Stephen Spiltany

Stephen Spiltany on Twitter

Santa Cruz Waldorf School

Connecting With Young Children

Conscious Parenting

Website

Instagram

This Chinese folktale has been adapted and retold from the book 'Chinese Children's Favorite Stories' by storyteller and artist, Mingmei Yip.  The story is about a frog who lived in a well. The frog thought that he knew everything about the world but when a turtle visits one day, they have a conversation and the frog comes out of his well and discovers that the world is much bigger than his well!

We recommend this story for ages 3 to 7

To discover more about please visit wenurturecollective.com/stories-for-children

A child’s development is an intricate process that has been refined through millions of years of evolution. Being present during developmental years is a major responsibility for a parent or caregiver, and understanding how one can guide the process is key to a healthy, growing child. Today I sit with Stephen Spiltany, who has taught at Santa Cruz Waldorf School since 1990. I open my conversation with Stephen by discovering the nuances of the child’s brain. Stephen talks about why children don’t have complex decision-making and planning skills, and he touches on the different systems of the brain, namely the Reptilian brain and the Limbic system. Following this, Stephen digs deeper as we explore the limbic system a little further. Through this, listeners will hear how they can adjust their parenting and caring styles. According to Stephen, a child’s job is to explore and try things out, while a parent’s job is to create loving boundaries. He continues this exploration by sharing ways you can approach children who struggle to receive instruction. To find out how you can lead through example, and much, much more, be sure to join us today!

In today's episode, you'll discover;

• Why children don’t have complex decision-making and planning skills.
• Stephen explains the three systems of the human brain.
• Hear about how the prefrontal cortex has evolved over millions of years.
• How an understanding of limbic system development can influence our parenting styles.
• Ways parents and carers can meet the development needs of young children.
• Approaching a child that dismisses your behavior as a good example.
• Why children aren’t malicious but are rather looking for the adult’s attention.
• Proactive things to say when disciplining a child.
• Why it is best to wait for intellectual activity.
• Stephen explains what intellectual activity is.

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

LifeWays North America

Stephen Spiltany

Santa Cruz Waldorf School

Conscious Parenting: A Guide to Living with Young Children on Amazon

Paul MacLean

National Institutes of Health

Gray’s Anatomy on Amazon

Website

Instagram