In today’s episode, I am joined by Holly Swenson, author, wellness blogger, and mother of four boys, for a conversation on why reflection is truly a superpower in both parenting and personal growth.

Holly shares her journey into conscious parenting and explains how reflection can shift the way we show up for our children, helping us break old cycles and create more intentional patterns. We explore what reflection looks like in the middle of busy family life, and Holly offers simple, grounding practices that any parent can start using today.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why reflection is so powerful for parents
• Practical ways to weave reflection into daily life, even when you’re busy
• How reflection helps us break old patterns and parent more intentionally
• The transformation that happens when reflection becomes part of your parenting journey

This episode will leave you inspired to slow down, look inward, and embrace reflection as a tool for growth, connection, and more conscious parenting.

Visit Holly Swenson's website

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DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

In this week's episode, I’m joined by Tracy Gillet, founder of Raised Good and a passionate advocate for attachment parenting. Together, we explore what attachment parenting really means, how it can look in everyday family life, and why tuning into your instincts is one of the most powerful tools you have as a parent.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of outside pressure or wondered whether you can really trust yourself to know what’s best for your child, this episode will bring both clarity and encouragement. Tracy also shares her own journey of discovering attachment parenting and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What attachment parenting really is and how it supports families
• How to tune into your instincts and quiet the outside noise
• Common myths and misconceptions about attachment parenting
• The key benefits for both parents and children when practicing it

This episode will leave you feeling encouraged to parent with confidence, guided by your own wisdom and grounded in connection.

Register here for the upcoming Summit

Pre-order my new children's book, Away to Dreamland

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DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

In this solo episode, I explore the connection between predictability in daily life and your child’s ability to self-regulate. While it may seem simple, creating steady rhythms and routines gives children the safety and consistency they need to manage big feelings, build resilience, and thrive.

If you’ve ever felt worn down by meltdowns, power struggles, or endless negotiations, you’re not alone. So often, these challenges stem from a child’s uncertainty about what comes next. Predictability offers children an anchor. It tells them, you are safe, your needs will be met, and you can relax into your day.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why predictability creates the foundation for self-regulation
• How daily rhythms reduce stress for both you and your child
• Simple ways to bring more predictability into each day

This episode will leave you feeling encouraged and inspired to welcome more rhythm into your days.

Pre-order my new children's book, Away to Dreamland

Order my new book, The Little Book of Parenting

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The We Nurture Journal

DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

*This episode was originally published June 14th, 2022.

In this episode, I talk about simple, calming activities you can use to support your child when they feel dysregulated. You’ll learn how different behaviors point to different needs, and how choosing the right activity can help your child feel more grounded.

I also share how the time of day can affect your child’s behavior and which calming activities best support the four foundational senses.

In this episode, I explore:

• How to observe your child’s behavior and identify what they need
• Four calming activities that speak to the foundational senses
• Why warmth, water, and cozy spaces help bring more peace

This episode will help you bring more calm into your home through gentle, sensory-based support.

Link to Waldorf Play Stand

Pre-order my new children's book, Away to Dreamland

Order my new book, The Little Book of Parenting

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DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

Parenting often brings us face-to-face with our own childhood. In this solo episode, I explore the gap between the parent you want to be and the patterns you inherited.

You'll learn:

• How your childhood shapes your default parenting style
• The difference between inherited and intentional parenting
• Tools for becoming more aware of automatic reactions
• Ways to reparent yourself while supporting your child
• Practices for staying present and connected when you're triggered

This episode will support you in choosing presence over patterns and becoming the parent your child needs.

Pre-order my new children's book, Away to Dreamland

Order my new book, The Little Book of Parenting

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The We Nurture Journal

DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

*This episode was originally aired on March 13th, 2023.

In this solo episode, I explore how rhythmical meals can transform your family’s mealtimes.

Young children thrive on predictability. When life flows in a dependable rhythm, they feel safe, grounded, and more able to meet the day. This is especially true around mealtimes. When your child knows what to expect—what’s for dinner, when it’s happening, and who they’ll share it with—everything goes smoothly.

In this episode, I share why rhythmical meals are so supportive for young children, and how you can begin to bring more ease and harmony to your family’s mealtime rhythm.

You’ll hear:

• Why children feel safer and calmer when meals follow a predictable rhythm
• How a weekly meal rotation can reduce stress and power struggles
• Ideas for healthy snacks and nourishing dinners
• Inspiration for seasonal eating and simple meal planning
• How mealtime rhythms support not just your child, but your whole family

This episode will leave you feeling inspired to bring more rhythm to your family mealtimes.

In this solo episode, I explore what happens when our children’s behavior brings up unresolved feelings from our own childhoods and how those moments can be powerful invitations to parent with more awareness and intention.

If you’ve ever found yourself reacting more strongly than you'd like, or defaulting to control when you feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Often, these responses are rooted in our own past—how we were spoken to, disciplined, or supported as children. When we begin to notice the patterns we’ve inherited, we create space for something new to emerge.

In this episode, I guide you through gentle reflections and mindset shifts to help you:

• Understand why your child’s behavior can feel so triggering
• Recognize when you're reacting from your past instead of the present moment
• Break the cycle of control and step into more connected, conscious parenting
• Make space to reparent yourself with compassion as you show up for your child
• Create new, nurturing patterns that support both you and your child

This episode will leave you feeling seen, supported, and inspired to bring more presence and self-understanding into your parenting, especially on the hardest days.

Pre-order my new children's book, Away to Dreamland

Order my new book, The Little Book of Parenting

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The We Nurture Journal

DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

[From the Archives] This episode was originally aired on June 21st, 2022.

In this episode, I talk about how to nurture your child’s ability to self-regulate. I highlight three stages of learning - supporting self-regulation, co-regulating, and achieving self-regulation  that, when nurtured, builds your child’s ability to regulate. You’ll come to understand what role your triggers, as a parent, play in your child’s self-regulation journey.  I share insights on the importance of breathing, talking, seeking help, and, of course, the undeniable benefits of play. Finally, I take a detailed look at the importance of self-regulation in children and adults alike. 

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The three stages of learning that build your child’s ability to self-regulate.
• Stage 1: Supporting self-regulation.
• How to be a calm, nurturing presence for your child.  
• Stage 2: Co-regulating. 
• Stage 3: Achieving self-regulation.
• Understanding your triggers as a parent will help your child’s self-regulation. 
• How children develop self-regulation through self-directed play. 
• The reasons why self-regulation is essential. 

If you enjoy this episode, please share it with a parent who would find it helpful and leave a review!

In this week's solo episode, I explore how to raise children who are truly respectful, without shutting down their emotions or demanding obedience at the cost of losing connection.

We’ll talk about what it really means to teach respect in a way that honors your child’s feelings and fosters emotional intelligence. You’ll learn how to model respectful behavior in everyday moments, how to build the kind of parent-child relationship that leads to mutual respect into the teen years and beyond, and why trust is at the heart of it all.

I also share a simple mindset shift that can help your child move through big emotions with more ease, one that nurtures resilience and self-regulation without shame or suppression.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What it truly means to teach and model respect
• How to create a relationship built on trust and mutual respect 
• Why trust and respect go hand in hand
• An imaginative way to help your child understand that emotions are temporary
• How to plant the seeds for lifelong connection and respect

This episode will leave you with strategies to foster a more respectful and trusting relationship with your child, today and for years to come.

Pre-order my new children's book, Away to Dreamland

Order my new book, The Little Book of Parenting

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The We Nurture Journal

DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

I’ll walk you through how to stay grounded in the midst of your child’s big emotions, how to respond with calm and confidence, and how to shift your mindset so you’re not parenting from shame or fear. You’ll also hear practical tips to help prevent public meltdowns and ways to support your child’s nervous system both during and after these difficult moments. I also share how to navigate sibling conflicts when out in public.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to respond to public meltdowns with calm and confidence
• Mindset shifts to let go of shame and pressure in public parenting moments
• Tips for preventing meltdowns
• How to handle common scenarios like meltdowns at the grocery store or restaurant
• What to do when siblings fight in public
• How to create a peaceful, grounding environment when you come back home that supports your child’s nervous system.

This episode will leave you ready to handle public meltdowns with calm and clarity, and build the foundation to avoid many of them altogether.

Pre-order my new children's book, Away to Dreamland

Order my new book, The Little Book of Parenting

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The We Nurture Journal

DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

I explore the key shifts—both practical and emotional—that can help you cultivate more calm, connection, and confidence in your parenting. You’ll also hear gentle guidance on how to regulate yourself in tough moments, and how that supports your child in learning to do the same.

This episode is for any parent who longs for a more peaceful rhythm, and who wants to show up with presence, even on the hardest days.

In this episode, I explore:

• The foundational principles of a calm home life
• How to stay grounded when things feel overwhelming
• Mindset shifts that support calm, confident parenting
• Simple practices to regulate yourself in the moment
• How your calm helps your child learn to self-regulate

Whether you’re just beginning to shift your home’s energy or looking to deepen your peaceful parenting journey, this episode will meet you where you are—with warmth, clarity, and gentle encouragement.

Pre-order my new children's book, Away to Dreamland

Order my new book, The Little Book of Parenting

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The We Nurture Journal

DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

In this week's solo episode, I’m diving into one of the most important and sometimes challenging parts of parenting—setting boundaries with your child.

If you’ve ever struggled with what to say when your child hits, bites, screams, or resists your limits, you’re not alone. Many parents wonder how to set boundaries that actually work—ones that are clear, and consistent. Boundaries aren’t about controlling your child, they’re about creating safety, clarity, and emotional security.

In this episode, I walk you through three key steps for setting boundaries in a way that supports your child’s emotional development and your confidence as a parent. I also share the importance of connection when holding a boundary.

You’ll come away with simple phrases to use in the moment, insight into why boundaries feel so hard sometimes, and encouragement to stay rooted in love and presence, even during the tough moments.

In this episode, I share:

• Why boundaries are essential for your child’s emotional growth
• How to set limits with clarity and connection
• How to respond when your child hits, bites, or screams
• the importance of connection and acknowledging your child's feelings

This episode will help you feel more confident, more centered, and more connected as you guide your child with boundaries rooted in love.

Pre-order my new children's book, Away to Dreamland

Order my new book, The Little Book of Parenting

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The We Nurture Journal

DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Hunter Clarke-Fields— author of Raising Good Humans—for a conversation on how we can move away from reactive parenting and toward a more mindful, connected approach.

We talk about what it really means to be a mindful parent, especially in those everyday moments that test our patience. Hunter shares powerful tools on how we can break cycles of yelling and frustration, and instead create more calm, connection, and intention in our relationships with our children.

If you’ve ever struggled with staying calm or wondered how to respond with more presence (rather than reacting in the heat of the moment), this episode offers both practical tools and gentle encouragement.

In this episode, we explore:

• What mindful parenting looks like in everyday life
• Tools to self-regulate in the moment
• Tips to stop yelling
• Mindset shifts that lead to lasting change

Whether you’re just starting to explore mindful parenting or looking for fresh inspiration, I hope this conversation with Hunter reminds you that growth is always possible—and that you don’t have to do it perfectly to make a meaningful difference.

Thank you to our sponsor,   https://untammed.co

Want to come on the show for a free, anonymous coaching session? Click here to apply

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The We Nurture Journal

Order my new book, The Little Book of Parenting

DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

In this solo episode of The We Nurture Podcast, I explore what is behind defiant behavior in children so that you can get to the root of the challenge.

You’ll learn why children say “no,” what’s often hiding underneath defiance, and how to support your child through this behavior. This episode will help you shift from frustration to understanding—and offer practical ideas for building more cooperation, trust, and ease in your daily rhythm.

In this episode, I share:

– Why your child might be saying “no” more often

– How to make your home a place of more connection and less correction

– What children really need when they are defiant

– How connection reduces power struggles

Whether you're dealing with frequent “nos,” full-on meltdowns, or subtle resistance, this conversation will help you feel more grounded and empowered to parent with love and intention.

Thank you to our sponsor,  https://untammed.co

Want to come on the show for a free, anonymous coaching session? Click here to apply

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The We Nurture Journal

Order my new book, The Little Book of Parenting

DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

If your child resists going to sleep, expresses fears at night, or needs more from you at bedtime than you feel you have to give, you’re not alone. This episode explores why bedtime can bring so many big feelings to the surface—and how you can lovingly support your child through them, without losing your own sense of calm.

Chinyelu unpacks what bedtime fears may really be communicating, why it’s not always about the fear itself, and how rhythm and storytelling can be powerful tools for comfort and connection. You’ll come away with practical ideas and a renewed perspective on how to ease your evenings and support your child in feeling safe enough to rest.

In this episode, Chinyelu explores:

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•  Why fears and resistance often show up at bedtime
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•  What your child might really need at the end of the day
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•  How to bring more connection and calm to the bedtime rhythm
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•  The power of stories to meet emotional needs and ease anxiety
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•  Simple shifts to help your child feel safe and ready for sleep
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This episode will leave you feeling more grounded, more confident, and more equipped to handle bedtime with love and intention.

Thank you to our sponsor, https://untammed.co

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The We Nurture Journal

Looking for 1:1 Parenting Support? Click here to book a session

Order my new book, The Little Book of Parenting

DISCLAIMER: The content shared in this podcast and on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never ignore or delay seeking professional medical guidance based on information from this podcast or website.

Spending time outdoors is real food for the soul, real food for the senses, as it nourishes the young child’s senses. Spending time outside helps your child breathe deeply and be better regulated.

Nature reduces overwhelm and eases tension. It will bring your child to a calm peaceful state. One of the great benefits of being out in nature is that it also gives your child time away from screens, and makes it possible for them to intimately reconnect with themselves.

Join me in this episode as I talk about the Foundational senses, outdoor activities that strengthen these senses, and how you can create an outdoor play area in your own backyard with toys that you curate that will interest your child and encourage them to spend hours in play outside.

 Want to come on the show for a free, anonymous coaching session? Click here to apply

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The We Nurture Journal

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In this episode, I dive into talking about 10 ways you can parent with greater consciousness. The 10 ways I focus on are;

•   Becoming conscious of your behavior, words, actions, and gestures.
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•   Working on self-development.
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•   Working on your personal challenges and triggers.
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•   Modeling behavior you want to see in your child.
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•   Creating healthy home rhythms.
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•   Slowing down and simplifying daily routines.
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•  Communicating clearly and limiting choices
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•   Being intentional with your words & limiting adult information
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•   Listening with interest
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•  Having Compassion and Empathy for your child’s big feelings

There’s a lot that I cover in this episode, including where I describe a foundation that’s needed for the young child’s healthy development. 

I hope you’ll join me!

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Listen in to my in-depth conversation with guest Catherine Read, PhD author of 'The Genius of Home' - Teaching Your Children At Home With The Waldorf Curriculum.

Catherine and I met about 30 years ago when we attended a Waldorf Playgroup at a Waldorf school in Southern California and then after moving across the country we reconnected again on the East Coast when we both moved at different years to Pennsylvania. Catherine and I share immense respect for the Waldorf method not only for the curriculum but also for how it provides wise guidance for healthy family life and a way of living.

Catherine shares her experience homeschooling her two children with the Waldorf method and how this awakened her to her own self-development and how the child awakens to the world as well as the development of consciousness during childhood. Catherine also shares how she approached homeschooling her two children and so much more!

Whether you're thinking of homeschooling and/or want incorporate the Waldorf method or way of living in your home, listening to this episode is a great starting point.

I'll be going deeper into conversation with Catherine in my upcoming webinar with her on Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 1:30 - 2:30 pm EST.  All who register will receive a Replay.

The Genius of Home

Learn more about Catherine’s work here

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In this episode, I talk about three important steps to take and I give step and step advice to  build a bridge that will help you and your spouse or partner come together with greater understanding. It's not only with boundary expectations that you will have differing opinions, there will be other aspects in parenting that will  challenge how you communicate and this is why creating a foundation for how to communicate is so important.

Listen to hear more!

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It can be hard to slow down, be present and fully embrace ordinary moments and ordinary days. How you wash the dishes, do the laundry, sweep the floor, set the table; these and more can make you feel like you're not seen and perhaps this is what makes simple, ordinary moments and days so hard.

In this episode I offer advice as well as inspiration for finding joy in ordinary days. I also tell my story of how I embraced ordinary days as a first time mom.

Here are two episodes from Season 4 that offer more on this topic.

The Key to More Joyful Days with Your Child (part 1)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-nurture/id1481862269?i=1000528963100

The Key to More Joyful Days with Your Child (part 2)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-nurture/id1481862269?i=1000529682364

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I touch on emotional overload and overwhelm and what happens when we view sleep as a holistic experience.

Join me for a different, perhaps wider perspective on how to help your child have better sleep.

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This concept was new to me as a valuable parenting tool. I was intrigued and decided to try it out. In this episode, I share what I learned from observing my children. I also talk about a good starting place should you choose to practice observing your child as a  way to know them better. 

I'm so glad you've joined me!

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It's no surprise that young children do best when life is consistent and dependable. They feel safe when life happens in the same way over and over and even in the same order. They want daily life to be reliable and this is one reason why rhythmical meals work. When your rhythm includes a rotation of weekly meals that your child can count on then mealtimes are more likely to go smoother. Creating a rhythm with meals will also create more harmonious family mealtimes.

Listen to hear the other benefits of rhythmical meals!

In the episode, I give some healthy snack suggestions as well as dinner ideas. I dive a little bit into seasonal eating and offer some inspiration for meal planning.

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What does the heartbeat in your home feel like?

Do you have clear intentions for your family's lifestyle?

Is there a rhythmic heartbeat in your home?

Join me in this episode for advice and tips that will reduce overwhelm and help you navigate balancing daily life.  

I've created a beautiful and unique Seasonal Family Rhythm Planner to help guide you in intentionally crafting a rhythm that aligns with the heartbeat you want for your home. The Rhythm Planner guides you step by step in creating a rhythm that will bring more balance to your days! Visit wenurturecollective.com to learn more or purchase your copy.

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Nature reduces overwhelm and eases tension. It will bring your child to a calm peaceful state. One of the great benefits of being out in nature is that it also gives your child time away from screens, and makes it possible for them to intimately reconnect with themselves. 

Join me in this episode as I talk about the Foundational senses, outdoor activities that strengthen these senses and how you can create an outdoor play area in your own backyard with toys that you curate that will interest your child and encourage them to spend hours in play outside.

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Being drawn to the ‘why‘ of a summer seasonal table/nature table as a young mother new to Waldorf Education. 
• Encouraging an interest in and respect for the natural world. 
• Helping your child learn about nature in a personal way, developing a caring attitude for the earth.  
• A natural way to encourage outside play. 
• How your child can get a deeper experience of exploring the world around them.
• Placing focus on allowing your child the opportunity to investigate and explore like a scientist. 
• The importance of play with objects from nature and further developing the sense of touch. 
• Why flowers matter and how to arrange them with your child. 
• The most important aspect of creating a seasonal table: being together with your child.
• Introducing seasonal foods/recipes to your child and having them help you prepare that meal.
• Crafting with natural objects and materials. 
• Having a crafted tree as a grounding presence on your seasonal table. 
• Ideas on how to start a seasonal table and where to place it in your home. 

Etsy

We Nurture Collective

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Key Points From This Episode:

• A new perspective on how to view balance in our lives.
• Why parenting requires so much energy.
• Five Waldorf-inspired practices to cultivate in day to day life.
• 1: self-care (creating simple, nurturing, doable, and nourishing practices). 
• 2: rhythm (sleep times, mealtimes, and play times).
• 3: daily routines (building with intentionality to restore a sense of balance).
• 4: family values (the tools you give your child, defining your family story, and creating healthy values).
• 5: home life and connecting with nature (a place of security, safety, and cultivating a sanctuary).

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Using stories to help children manage behavior that has become disruptive. 
• How to use language to conjure up images that guide your child’s emotions to a calm state.
• Why the loss of a sense of security and safety can cause dysregulation.
• Descriptive language as an aid for early childhood development. 
• The way stories can capture a child’s attention and imagination. 
• Creating your own stories, as a parent, to bring calm. 
• The types of stories that you can use to create imagery. 
• Making sure that you do not direct your child through your stories. 
• Creating imagery that your child can relate to. 
• How to navigate through an unexpected event that interrupts the usual routine. 
• Your story does not have to be perfect, so rather focus on connecting with your child!
• Using animals in stories to better connect with your child. 
• An example of a preview story: The Fox Family. 

Waldorf Education

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Key Points From This Episode:

• How to change our response to our child’s negative behavior. 
• How to figure out what our child is trying to communicate when they have negative behavior.
• Helpful strategies to use when dealing with a child’s misbehavior. 
• Understanding what the flawed goal of timeout is.
• Why we need to be present when our children reflect on their behavior. 
• How we help our children with emotional regulation by being present.
• Why our children need to feel comforted and guided when they are presenting negative behavior.
• The lessons to teach our children when they are processing their feelings. 
• How to reflect on why you are sending your child to timeout.
• The power of giving a child autonomy and choice.
• How to incorporate the outside when you’re dealing with misbehavior. 
• The importance of reflecting on your child’s negative behavior. 

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Chinyelu discusses why she was at home with her three children (of all different ages).
• The power of a healthy, daily rhythm and having a holistic overview of the day.
• Talking about how different emotions are expressed at the end of the day, normally at bedtime.
• Why children can become clingy at the end of the day.
• How to have a harmonious bedtime.
• The link between the end of today and the beginning of tomorrow. 
• Investing in a front carrier for your baby.
• Why you should have early dinners, and how to create a bathing/showering routine.
• Why you should read books (and the different kinds of books to read) before bed.
• How you can put your day to rest and give yourself peace during bedtime.

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Key Points From This Episode:

• How the summer season brings a change in rhythms.
• Creating predictable and consistent routines.
• The foundation of rhythm and the three cornerstones: sleep time, mealtime, and playtime. 
• How to help your child self-regulate, have a sense of normality, and support their sense of wellbeing.
• Understanding your child’s negative behavior (and boundary-pushing) as communicating feelings of being unsettled and overwhelmed. 
• The major role of balancing your day-to-day life
• The power of slowing down (and expanding) the activities we do with our children.
• A framework for creating your summer rhythm.
• Sleep time: the correct number of hours for restorative sleep. 
• Mealtime: helping keep the system in balance, nourishment, and blood sugar regulation.
• Playtime: nourishing cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being and language and communication skills development. 
• The power of being in nature during your summer mealtime.
• A summertime rhythm guide, based on times of the day, for creating a nourishing routine. 

Sleep Foundation

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Just  by watching your child, you can see how much their toys stimulate their imagination, their curiosity and approach to exploring their world. Children learn about their world through play and the toys and play materials that they use are a medium for this exploration.

The less formed a toy is the more room there is for your child to imagine and create their own ideas. Open-ended toys give children freedom to create and because they aren’t fixed they can be used in any number of ways. 

Join me in this episode to learn more!

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Exploring how you can nurture your child’s ability to be compassionate through doll play.
• Doll play is valuable to all children, boys and girls. 
• How dolls are the archetype of the human being in Waldorf education. 
• The way a child will imitate how you, as an adult, handle a doll. 
• How doll play can lead to a parent becoming more mindful. 
• What to avoid as a parent when handling a doll. 
• Why a toy can be a young child’s best friend. 
• My experience of seeing a Waldorf doll for the first time.
• How a simple doll allows a child to fully express their feelings. 
• The perfect Christmas gift: a make-your-own doll kit. 
• How kids build relationships with their dolls. 
• How children are able to work through their thoughts, feelings, and experiences through doll play. 
• The importance of being mindful when showing nurturing care to our children.

Waldorf Education

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“Although each temperament has specific qualities, we can expect that every one of the qualities will be seen in each individual.”— Chinyelu Kunz [

I talk about how, although each person has one or two dominant elements, qualities of each temperament is present in everyone. I advise on how to recognize, observe, experience, and manage each temperament in your child. Plus, I offer a guide to understanding how to bring all four elements into balance and harmony. I hope you will join me for this episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The power of understanding your child’s personality.
• The four temperaments and how they relate to the four elements.
• How Waldorf uses the temperaments as a tool to bring children to balance.
• Exploring how each element can present itself in children. 
• A perspective from a Waldorf teacher and Waldorf mother.
• How to support our children by understanding and recognizing their characteristics as a part of their elements. 

Books on Temperaments (short list)

Between Form & Freedom by Betty Staley

Children and Their Temperaments by Marieke Anschutz

Authentic Parenting by Bari Borsky & Judith Haney

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

We Nurture on YouTube

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This question was asked on our instagram poll when we asked parents to submit their questions for Q & A Friday on the podcast. It received a lot of votes which made it the clear choice for this episode. 

If you would like to ask a parenting question you can submit it on Instagram @we (underscore) nurture on Mondays during season 6!

 Listen in as I guide you through how to acknowledge your stress, process stress triggers, and even potentially prevent stress altogether. You’ll learn the negative effects of high-stress levels and how you can recognize this through your elevated emotions. 

When your self-care practices make it possible for you to have a deeper understanding of why your stress exists, this helps you understand ways to heal yourself. 

However, you need to remember that your stressors and emotions are valid, even if they make you feel like you are an incapable or imperfect parent. With examples such as going for a walk, having a bath, and resting when your child does, you'll begin to understand how you need to nurture the parts of yourself that needs it the most. 

I hope this episode will inspire you to dig deep and start your daily self-care practices today!

Listen to hear more and learn ways to reduce your parenting stress!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The knockdown effects of high-stress levels. 
• Recognizing the beginning stages of elevated stress levels.
• The implications of emotional disconnection.
• The feelings of regret at the end of the vicious stress cycle.
• How to determine the origin of your stress.
• Examples of emotions that trigger stress.
• Different practices to incorporate into your day-to-day life to alleviate stress.
• The deepness that should take place during your self-care practices. 
• Examples of self-care practices that nurture the parts of yourself that need to be nurtured. 
• Different parts of self: emotional, social, physical, sensory, intellectual, creative, and spiritual. 
• How to achieve personal growth while you’re on the journey of reducing your stress. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

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What is it about forest life that draws us, heals us, and brings us joy? 

What does it mean to bath our senses in the atmosphere of the forest?

In the forest, nothing is asked of us so we find ourselves listening, observing and noticing what’s around us. We relax. And when we are in a place where we can calmly take in our surroundings, particularly in a forest where our senses are bathed, we become peaceful just by the very fact that our body is in a restful state and that we’re breathing more deeply.

Join me as I take you on a journey through the forest to experience how and why it's healing for the senses and the soul.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Understanding what forest bathing is.
• The health benefits of forest bathing.
• Why I built a forest at a Waldorf pre-school program.
• Why forest life heals and nurtures our emotional well-being, physical bodies, and soul.
• What it means to bathe our senses in the atmosphere of a forest.
• How to craft and cultivate a simple and better forest experience.
• Nature as a powerful antidote for sensory overload and challenging behaviors.
• The ways children absorb experiences and how to use this to foster healthy development.
• The four foundational senses as our child’s sensory building blocks.
• How to observe your child in a  forest bathing experience. 
• 
  

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture Instagram   

We Nurture Instagram  

Association for Healing Education - Article - Observations Based on the Lower Senses

http://box5157.temp.domains/~healipj6/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/12sensesahe.pdf

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It's been said that the most effective way for a young child to be educated is to let them learn through play at their own pace. - To let them learn when they are ready and interested. 

The types of play that I’ll focus on is based on research that was used as a tool for assessing whether play in early childhood programs was providing adequate opportunities and materials for all types of play. Although this research came out of this need, it’s also a useful tool for us as parents to know if we are providing the variety of play that our child needs and if they have access to different types of play in the program they attend.

Listen to learn more!

Here are a links to Alliance for Childhood articles

Crisis in the Kindergarten - Why Children Need to Play in School

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d24bb215f3e850001630a72/t/5d389f785f713d0001a33797/1563991929109/Summary+Crisis+in+Kindergarten_8-page_summary.pdf

Alliance for Childhood - Importance of Play

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED485734.pdf

12 Key Types of Play

https://images.shulcloud.com/1039/uploads/docs/Resource-Bank/Parent-Resource-Bank/Twelve-Key-Types-of-Play.pdf

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Today, I talk about how to nurture your child’s ability to self-regulate. I highlight three stages of learning - supporting self-regulation, co-regulating, and achieving self-regulation  that, when nurtured, builds your child’s ability to regulate. You’ll come to understand what role your triggers, as a parent, play in your child’s self-regulation journey.  I share insights on the importance of breathing, talking, seeking help, and, of course, the undeniable benefits of play. Finally, I take a detailed look at the importance of self-regulation in children and adults alike.  Tune in to listen and  please share this episode with family and friends. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• The three stages of learning that build your child’s ability to self-regulate.
• Stage 1: Supporting self-regulation.
• How to be a calm, nurturing presence for your child.  
• Stage 2: Co-regulating. 
• Stage 3: Achieving self-regulation.
• Why understanding your triggers as a parent will help your child’s self-regulation. 
• How children develop self-regulation through self-directed play. 
• The reasons why self-regulation is essential. 

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Key Points From This Episode:

• A brief look at my personal parenting style with regard to screens. 
• The age at which I introduced screens into my children's lives.
• Discussing the development of a young child’s brain with respect to certain age markers.
• The developmental processes a brain misses out on when a child is having screen time.
• Why I avoided screen time when raising my children in their early years. 
• The importance of children feeling and processing their boredom.
• The effects of screen time on children's cognitive, sensory, and physiological nervous systems.
• How screen time can affect your child’s focus, attention span, and sleep.
• A scientific understanding of a child’s developing brain. 
• Three critical questions you can ask yourself when making decisions around children’s screen time.
• How to look out for and pay attention to the negative effects of screen time.
• 10 key points from Dr. Dunckley’s book, Reset Your Child's Brain.
• The power of observing your child.

PDF Reset Your Child's Brain - A Four Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades and Build Social skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen Time

Reset Your Child's Brain by Dr. Victoria Dunckley

What Do We Really Know About Kids and Screens

The Case for Screen-Free Childhood

Associations between screen-based media use and brain white matter integrity in preschool-aged children

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Navigating your child’s resistance while considering potential underlying causes.
• How allowing your child to express themselves builds connections and strengthens relationships.
• A list of seven things to consider when understanding resistant behavior.
• Suggestions on how to combat resistant behavior. 
• Why adults must make bigger decisions and let children choose between two smaller choices. 
• How being overwhelmed can mirror being resistant. 
• The ways an adult can support their child through situations that trigger resistance.
• What the Waldorf Education system defines as the individuation process.
• The healing power of telling stories.
• How to tame, work with, and deal with aggressive language and behavior

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Living into an experience, instead of thinking your way through it. 
• How ‘feeling‘ is more important than ‘knowing‘ for the young child. 
• The importance of nature in early childhood.
• Waldorf Educations’s three phases of the growing child, paying closer attention to ‘the willing phase‘.  
• Planning your garden and deciding what to plant.
• The importance of organic seeds/food. 
• Making sure that you have the right tools. 
• How to create a separate play area for your child.
• Another reminder that children play themselves into life. 
• Some fun gardening activities for children aged 18 months and older. 
• The importance of having the right clothes and why distinctively different clothes for gardening matters. 
• I talk about how to keep it simple. 
• Little things that you can do to add to the experience, beyond just gardening.
• Creating a small, personal garden bed for the slightly older child. 

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Children’s interest in adults’ day-to-day tasks.
• A look at my childhood in Nigeria as the beginning of my relationship with food.
• Cooking as an early childhood experience is integral to the Waldorf curriculum.
• The holistic perspective of nourishment as an experience that promotes a healthy relationship with food.
• The importance of children being immersed and included in their surrounding environments.
• Accepting that including your child in cooking may be messy and be imperfect.
• How cooking nurtures your relationship with your child and builds their self-esteem.
• How helping prepare food promotes pre-maths thinking and helps build hand-eye coordination skills.
• How cooking develops language skills, social-emotional and cognitive development, and problem-solving skills.
• Age-appropriate considerations to make in the kitchen.
• Recommendations on how to ensure your child’s safety while preparing food. 

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Key Points From This Episode:

Things to notice about your child’s behavior. 

• How behavior determines the necessary calming activity. 
• The importance of identifying the ‘need’ of your child. 
• What different types of calming activities look like.
• Why time of day is an important factor to consider. 
• How sense is important when choosing the right calming activity. 
• Looking at the four foundational senses. 
• Four calming activities that relate to the senses. 
• Grounding experiences for the imbalanced child.
• Why warmth is used as a calming essential tool. 
• How water is akin to therapy. 
• The importance of cozy nooks and blanketed forts for you.

You'll find our recipe for Homemade Warm Lavender Scented Play dough in today's instagram post.

Link to Waldorf Play Frame

Link to Waldorf Play Stands

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May this episode encourage you and help you to discover hope and joy in life everyday and that you'll find the strength and courage to show your child that there is indeed Goodness in the World!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why it is important for children to know that there is goodness in the world. 

• Why children need to be protected from adult fears and anxieties.

• The way Chinyelu’s childhood experiences of war formed her beliefs!

• Discovering ways to be a model of happiness for our kids. 

• How to help your child develop a sense of safety.

• What it means to meet the world with warmth and an open heart.

• How to create moments of stillness.

• The importance of positive affirmations.

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In sharing my personal story my hope is that it will help you if you are facing this kind of behavior. If you think my story and advice might help a family member or friend, please share it with them.

Throughout the episode, I challenge you to shift how you view aggressive behavior to see that what your child is actually needing, is actually asking for is you. They’re asking for your unconditional love, your compassion, your empathy, your understanding and your kindness. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• My personal experience with bossy and aggressive behavior
• The power of judgment-free observation.
• A consistent approach to moving through the locked aggressive feelings of a toddler. 
• How to understand your child’s behavior with unconditional love and empathy. 
• How to support all your children when one is hurting from the actions of their sibling.
• Remodeling aggressive actions to become respectful communication and healthy interactions. 
• The main goal when dealing with challenging behavior.
• The importance of a parent’s kindness, empathy, unconditional love, and compassion.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

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Jolene speaks about the importance of getting your child into the rhythm of eating with the seasons from an early age. And that it’s possible to make healthy eating fun for them!

Tune in to hear Jolene's advice and tips from her own personal and professional experience.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Jolene’s most important food recommendations to include in family meals.
• Making healthy eating, vegetables in particular, fun for children.
• Detoxing: why this is not a scary concept but one to be embraced. 
• A bit about Jolene’s research process.
• How you can cultivate a foodie curiosity in your own home.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jolene Hart Website

Jolene on Twitter

Eat Pretty: Nutrition for Beauty Inside and Out

Eat Pretty Live Well - A Guided Journal

Eat Pretty Everyday - 365 Daily Inspirations

Shine On

Ignite Your Light

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Self-confidence is developed and driven by the child’s own will (impulse and desire to do what interests them).

• Nurture your child’s will by giving them opportunities to help in daily life activities.

• Give your child plenty of time for unstructured play.

• Engaging a child’s will harnesses their inner strength and thus builds their confidence.

• As a parent, work on your own self-confidence.

• Mindfulness of your words and actions that are directed at your child.

• Being a strong role model for your child to imitate.

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Understanding Chinyelu’s inspiration behind the book, Farmhouse Manna.
• A background of her relationship with food and her love for cooking and gardening.
• The importance behind our intentions when preparing and eating a meal.
•  Exploring what it means to feel our soul senses.
• How children develop life skills by participating in meal preparation and food shopping.
• The power of observing our child's reactions and behavior towards different foods.
• Rhythm, repetition, and joy allow a child to develop a positive relationship with food.
• Minimizing pressure around finishing food 

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Why begging is a learned behavior. 
• The importance of teaching children to accept their parents’ decisions. 
• The importance of allowing your children to express their emotions and not suppressing them.
• Establishing healthy communication. 
• Some steps to help you stop your child’s begging. 

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Key Points From This Episode:

• The positive outcomes of using spring rituals for refreshing and restoring your home, body, and soul. 
• How you and your child can nurture areas of your day-to-day life with valuable intentions.
• How cornerstones and healthy rhythms promote balance in a child’s life.
• Exploring the importance and benefits of creating rituals.
• How rhythm, reverence, and rituals lead to peace, calm, and joy.
• Incorporating spring rhythms into your rituals to promote reconnection to increase a child’s wellbeing.
• How to use each day to focus on individual rituals. 
• Four examples of simple, consistent rituals to create and shape your own daily practice.
• Rituals that nourish your body.
• The importance of mindfulness when creating new rituals for your child. 

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Why trust is essential for children.
• What happens when there is no trust between parent and child. 
• How to build trust with your child in the early childhood years.
• The importance of thinking before you speak as a parent to build a trusting relationship.
• How a healthy rhythm or structure to the day builds trust. 

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Key Points From This Episode:

• The positive, explorational processes children go through while drawing. 
• A look at children's developmental stages in relation to their drawings.
• Looking at the early phase, middle phase, and late phase of children’s development.
• The importance of a child’s experiences of drawing with no need for explanations.
• How a sense of individuality and being human emerges through a child’s drawings.
• The connections between the phases of a child’s drawings and their phases of play.
• How to understand and follow the journey of the shapes and images your child draws.
• Explaining different theories and potential meanings of different-shaped drawings.

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Key Points From This Episode:

• The importance of reconnecting with yourself before reconnecting with your child. 
• I'll offer a breathing exercise to help you reconnect with yourself.
• How important it is to slow your thoughts down.
• Four ways you can reconnect with your child. 

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Key Points From This Episode:

• A few foundational insights into the Waldorf philosophy 
• How you can begin to create a Waldorf atmosphere in your home.
• The importance of self-development in creating a Waldorf atmosphere.
• How rhythm supports the creation of the physical space.
• Kitchen: something to stand on to include your little ones in cooking and cleaning.
• Family room: organize toys in baskets or shelves to develop an orderly way of thinking. 
• Bedroom: a less busy room that creates a peaceful and restorative environment. 
• Tips to help transform your home into a Waldorf-inspired atmosphere!

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Key Points From This Episode:

• How spring affects children’s movements. 
• How spring affects your child’s growth.
• The way in which the changes in temperature can affect your child’s health.
• How your rhythm changes during spring. 
• The importance of rhythm for nurturing your child. 
• How we bring together a rhythm that’s predictable, consistent and still flexible.
• The importance of sleep time for children. 
• An example of a spring rhythm. 
• Examples of in-breath and out-breath activities. 
• The importance of movement for children.
• Some ways to connect with the energy of spring.
• The importance of being outside during spring

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Key Points From This Episode:

• Implementing a proactive approach to creating boundaries instead of a reactive one. 
• Using a loving and kind approach to setting boundaries with a child.  
• The importance of a child's age, development, and personality when setting boundaries.  
• Why consistency is so vital in determining the efficacy of a boundary. 

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 Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing today’s topic: Speech Development.
• A brief overview of how speech develops from birth to preschool age. 
• Year one: crying and the dangers of letting them cry.
• Three to six months: laughing.
• Six to nine months: two-syllable words and understanding meaning. 
• 12 to 18 months: imitating sound and pitch. 
• 18 to 24 months: two-word sentences. 
• Year two: naming things and the dangers of correcting your child. 
• Year three: multiple words, even sentences with lots of words, asking why and the use of “I”. 
• Year four: complex sentences.
• Year five: good vocabulary and complex sentence structure. 
• The importance of understanding your child’s emotional age. 
• Tips to help with your child’s speech development. 
• The connection between movement and speech development. 
• How reading, songs, and nursery rhymes help with language. 
• How rapid movement games and household chores support speech development. 
• The importance of allowing your child alone time to digest what they’ve learned. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

Website

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When you parent with loving kindness, your relationship with your child strengthens. Although, it will take time, in fact years of consistently meeting your child’s needs in loving kind ways, there are steps you can take that will guide you. I'll mention these steps in the episode.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The focus of Mindful Mondays. 
• Introducing today’s topic: parenting through love instead of fear. 
• The opposite of parenting with loving-kindness: threats. 
• The negative effect of fear on a child. 
• An example of a scenario where you can choose to parent with kindness.
• The importance of understanding why your child has a negative response to an instruction.
• Some helpful steps to parent mindfully.
• Step one: pause to reflect and gather yourself. 
• Step two: connect then connect with touch. 
• Step three: validate your child’s feelings. 
• Step four: hold a boundary if needed.
• Step five: connect and comfort. 
• Step six: restate the boundary if needed. 
• Step seven: follow through with loving words and actions. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

We Nuture on Spotify

We Nuture on Apple Podcasts

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Head to our Instagram @we_nurture  to see the winter craft idea mentioned in today's episode! 

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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The 12 Senses Article

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

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There's a printable of Mealtime Blessings that goes along with this episode. You'll find it on our website - wenurturecollective.com.  Here's the link; https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f3acf17ad525662863d2190/t/61a4d496ef4c07476c036562/1638192312074/Mealtime+Blessings

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If you have a parenting question for one of our Q & A Fridays, you can ask it on Mondays on Instagram or anytime on our website. I then select one question a week to answer on the podcast.

Article by Alfie Kohn

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You can download the crafting guide here

The guide contains a list of all the supplies, instructions, and photos.

Visit our website here

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Yesterday, on our website, I shared a Waldorf inspired birthday story that I wrote. In the story the little child who is journeying to the earth receives gifts from the sun, moon, and stars before crossing over the rainbow bridge to be born on the earth. The gifts received before birth are seeds that are planted in us to connect us with our creative genius - our purpose. This is where the creative genius of each child lies and to be able to recognize and connect to these gifts, once here on earth, is what you can help nurture in your child. 

Click here for the story

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To download the birthday story printable, click here

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If you're finding that this time of year is asking you to give more attention to your self-care or has you questioning your self-care practices and how to take better care of yourself you're not alone. 

Listen to hear why your self-care is a valuable practice to begin now, how it affects you as a parent and how it affects your child.  In this episode, you'll hear about 5 areas that you will want to give attention to as you begin to mindfully Take Good Care of Yourself!

Download the Printable

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Connect with us on instagram @we_nurture! If you love this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe because this helps us reach more parents! 

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

The Three Little Deers and the Great Storm

Stories for Children Podcast

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We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

Stories for Children Podcast

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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

Website

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Connect with us on instagram @we_nurture! If you love this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe because this helps us reach more parents.!

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

Stories for Children Podcast

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Download the Six-Step Action Guide here

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Discovering Joy in Parenting: The First Seven Years

Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children

With Stars in Their Eyes: Brain Science and Your Child’s Journey toward the Self

Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community

The Soul of Discipline: The Simplicity Parenting Approach to Warm, Firm, and Calm Guidance- Toddler to Teen

Stress-Free Parenting in 12 Steps

Beyond the Rainbow Bridge: Nurturing Our Children from Birth to Seven

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

The Three Little Deers and the Great Storm

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To help you get started with creating your family’s nature corner, we have a  limited selection of nature dyed silks to get you started. You’ll find them on the website linked below.

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

The Three Little Deers and the Great Storm

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We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

Season 4 Episode 4: “How do Develop Healthy Sleep Rhythms for your Child”

The Three Little Deers and the Great Storm

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Festivals, Family and Food

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

The Three Little Deers and the Great Storm

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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mom Guilt Worksheet

We Nurture Collective

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We Nurture on Facebook

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Whether your child is at home with you, in daycare, or in a school program, there are essential

needs that they require each day for them to truly blossom. Today, on Blossoming Tuesday, we unpack some of these early essentials and, in the coming weeks, we focus on ages two to seven, taking a closer look at each of these developmental stages, what behaviors to be aware of, and how best to support your child through each stage. In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to manage your own anxiety so that it doesn’t impact your little ones, the power of simplicity, and the importance of creating healthy rhythms at home, especially when it comes to sleep, play, and boundaries, plus so much more.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Early Essentials Printable

Simplicity Parenting

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

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negatively impact our own sense of self-worth as well as our relationship with our child. That is why mindful parenting is such a valuable practice, and every Monday for this season of the We Nurture Podcast I am going to be focusing on this topic. Mindful parenting refers to the act of bringing your conscious attention to what is happening, rather than letting your emotions take control. In today’s episode, I’m going to talk you through some of the key strategies that you can use on your parenting journey in order to become more mindful.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Episode Worksheet

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

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Questions answered in this episode:

• My 4-year-old screams and throws things during tantrums. Is that normal?
• Tips and suggestions for potty learning?
• How can I cut down or just get rid of screen-time for my 3-year-old?
• My 3-year-old plays with food at mealtime. What should I do?
• How can I help my daughter who is feeling anxious?

If there are parenting challenges that you're facing and need support, I'm here to help you figure out the root cause and give you clear, practical solutions to implement. You can sign up for a parenting coaching session on our website www.wenurturecollective.com

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IN THIS EPISODE WE COVER:

• How to create rituals around each part of the day + examples
• How you can implement pauses in your child’s day, and why you should.
• Benefits of giving your child 30 minutes of your undivided attention in the morning, from Chinyelu’s personal experience.
• The importance of practicing self-care, which is something parents often forget to do.
• … and so much more!

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IN THIS EPISODE WE COVER:

• Why rituals are important for young children
• The importance of creating rituals and why consistency is key
• Ideas for your personal morning ritual as well as your child's
• What your breakfast ritual might look like 
• … and so much more!

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IN THIS EPISODE WE COVER:

• How to manage screen time with your children
• How to hold boundaries with younger children and model a positive example
• How screen time can negatively impact your child’s development
• How to find the screen time rhythm that is best for your family

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In this episode, we cover the different types of play and their benefits. We explore some great outdoor play activity ideas and talk about the importance of the outdoors for both parents and children. Meagan has a wealth of valuable information to share and we hope you can put her knowledge into practice in your own homes!

IN THIS EPISODE WE COVER:

• The four main different types of play, and the benefits of each one.
• The value of open-ended toys
• How to transition from indoor to outdoor activities with ease
• Strategies for creating toys without spending too much money

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Meagan Rose Wilson on Instagram

Whole Family Rhythms

Rudolf Steiner Centre

Sydney Rudolf Steiner College

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

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Instagram

Listen to learn about the importance of establishing a rhythm or routine with your children, even when they're really young. Meagan gives a breakdown of how much sleep a child needs based on their age and we discuss how to adapt your routine for the different phases of your child’s life. To find out how to help your child fall asleep with greater ease, how to teach a child to fall asleep without you there, why you shouldn’t give up on nap time too soon, and how to handle a child getting up multiple times in the night, tune in today!

In this Episode We Cover:

How to adjust the bedtime rhythm as your infant becomes a toddler.

How parents can balance the bedtime rituals of children in different age groups.

How to handle a child getting up multiple times in the night.

A breakdown of how much sleep a child needs based on their age.

Meagan Rose Wilson

Meagan Rose Wilson on Instagram

Whole Family Rhythms

National Sleep Foundation

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

Website

Instagram

educator, author, and mother of four. Meagan has supported hundreds of parents to create a

strong family rhythm unique to their own values and culture and, today, she applies her expertise to the subject of mealtimes. We discuss how to make mealtimes calmer and how

to instill more intention into the experience to help it become the most treasured part of the day. You’ll find out how to cultivate and enrich your relationship and your children’s relationship with food and how to nurture this through gardening, and Meagan explains the value of meal planning to save time and reduce stress, providing a number of helpful meal and snack ideas. Listen in to learn how to model the type of behavior you expect, teach table manners, keep small children seated at the table for the duration of the meal, and stimulate and encourage the types of conversation you want to have at the dinner table. Establishing mealtime rituals can create a sense of calm and reverence, so make sure to tune in to discover some of the rituals that work for us!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to the series with Meagan and how it ties into the Waldorf philosophy.

• Today’s topic: instilling family mealtimes with calmness, intention, ritual, and reverence.

• How to nurture a child's relationship with food through gardening.

• Why Meagan doesn’t believe in demonizing or banning any one specific ingredient.

• The value of meal planning to save time and reduce stress.

• Meagan provides a number of meal and snack ideas.

• How we can bring greater mindfulness to mealtimes and create more calm at the dinner table.

• Tips for creating rituals to set the tone for the meal.

• How to stimulate and encourage appropriate conversation in small children.

• How to model the type of behavior you expect at the dinner table.

• Some ideas for some other mealtime rituals you can create.

• Advice for teaching table manners; the importance of modeling.

• Methods for keeping children seated at the table for the meal, such as the candle ritual.

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Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to the Waldorf Movement, today’s guest, and the focus of today’s episode.

• Rhythm; how Meagan defines it.

• Meagan explains how rhythm differs from routine and gives a practical example which makes it clear how rhythm can be incorporated into your daily life.

• Three main cornerstones that Meagan encourages parents to focus on with their children.

• Benefits that rhythm offers you and your children.

• Different types of rhythm, defined temporally.

• What the in-breaths and out-breaths within a restorative daily rhythm can look like.

• Examples of how Meagan manages in-breaths and out-breaths for her children of different

ages.

• A simple practice which can help you with maintaining your rhythm.

• The flowing nature of rhythm means that it is not set in stone and will change depending on a number of factors.

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They take their cues from us and setting the right rhythmic example for this elemental part of human life should be the building block of all things to come. This then branches out into the other rhythms of the body and its organs; looking at the need for rest and sustenance can help us anchor the day according to what is most important. Listeners can expect to hear all about these steps and how they shift and evolve with growing children, as well as some helpful actionable methods for setting things in the right kind of motion. Tune in to get it all!

In this Episode we cover

- The starting point for creating and strengthening your home rhythms

- Mindfulness and scheduling; looking at daily and weekly planning with calm energy.

- Where to shift and adjust as your child grows and changes

- Letting go of difficulty and guilt associated with an over-cluttered routine.

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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

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. 

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

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

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

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

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

You can find more about Stephen and the books he has published at chamakanda.com

Conscious Parenting: A Guide to Living with Young Children

Connecting with Young Childen: Educating the Will

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

 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

Stephen Spitalny

Stephen Spitalny on Twitter

Conscious Parenting: A guide to living with young children on Amazon

Speaking with the Young Child Through the Kindergarten Years

Wynstones Press

Website

Instagram

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing today’s Q&A topic: Tantrums - Nurturing ways to help your child.
• Why tantrums are normal.
• What tantrums actually mean and when they can manifest.
• What happens when we engage our children or contemplation or conversation.
• Finding a balance with your child and the way they use tantrums.
• Understanding the role of the parent and brain development.
• The prefrontal cortex and its purpose.
• Why rhythm is good for young children.
• Why healthy boundaries are necessary.
• Listening with compassion is a skill.
• Why empathy is a useful tool.

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

Website

Instagram

Key Points From This Episode:

• Today, we answer some top parenting questions.

• What parents should do to stop their child screaming at them.

• Why you should never scream back at your child.

• Important lines to say when your child is yelling at you.

• Some of the varied reasons that children yell.

• We’re asked about boys playing with dolls.

• Why playing with a doll creates good human behaviors.

• How playing with dolls can help boys with their life challenging experiences.

• Another listener wants to know how to stop their kids from fighting over toys.

• Hear how you can make sure fighting children feel understood and not judged.

• We answer; do you have recommendations on timeouts?

• What studies have found about timeouts.

• A useful phrase to say to your child when they are in timeout.

• Hear about sensory play ideas for two-year-olds.

• How to implement a sense of life, touch, movement, and balance.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

We Nurture Collective

We Nurture on Instagram

We Nurture on Facebook

Website

Instagram

Music is “Dance With Me” and “Naive” by Sergey Cheremisinov.

To join one of our online courses, ask a parenting question, book a one-on-one consultation or join our community please visit wenurturecollective.com

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Instagram

Sharifa is the author of multiple best-selling books: Heaven on Earth, Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children, and With Stars in their Eyes.  She also worked collaboratively to create the book, What is a Waldorf Kindergarten. She was the founding teacher of the Charlottesville Waldorf School, Virginia, where she taught kindergarten for twenty-one years and served as daycare director of the early-childhood program. She has helped develop new teachers through mentoring and offering practicum and internship opportunities to the teacher-training students at Sunbridge College in New York. Recently she initiated a home-based kindergarten program, The Rose Garden. Sharifa also travels offering lectures and workshops to schools and parent groups. She is the mother of three grown sons, who were educated in the Waldorf tradition. Sharifa lives in an enchanted forest in Virginia.

Music is “Dance With Me” by Sergey Cheremisinov.

To join one of our online courses, ask a parenting question, book a one-on-one consultation or join our community please visit wenurturecollective.com

Website

Instagram

Sharifa is the author of multiple best-selling books: Heaven on Earth, Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children, and With Stars in their Eyes.  She also worked collaboratively to create the book, What is a Waldorf Kindergarten. She was the founding teacher of the Charlottesville Waldorf School, Virginia, where she taught kindergarten for twenty-one years and served as daycare director of the early-childhood program. She has helped develop new teachers through mentoring and offering practicum and internship opportunities to the teacher-training students at Sunbridge College in New York. Recently she initiated a home-based kindergarten program, The Rose Garden. Sharifa also travels offering lectures and workshops to schools and parent groups. She is the mother of three grown sons, who were educated in the Waldorf tradition. Sharifa lives in an enchanted forest in Virginia.

Music is “Dance With Me” by Sergey Cheremisinov.

To join one of our online courses, ask a parenting question, book a one-on-one consultation or join our community please visit wenurturecollective.com

Website

Instagram