For the Grown-Ups
This category is tailored for adults seeking valuable insights and resources. From parenting tips to personal growth advice, education insights, and more, discover content designed to support and empower grown-ups on their journey.
A Tastier Thanksgiving: Serve Up Your Family Stories
. Who did you celebrate Thanksgiving with in the past? What were your favorite dishes? These stories are pure gold and are guaranteed to create the kind of holidays your children will cherish and look forward to year after year.
American "Discovery?" and Cheers to all the Ways We Discover Every Day
Christopher Columbus’ achievement is certainly important and a major part of the story of America — but “discovery” might not be the most accurate way to describe it.
Inclusion, Teasing, and Bullying with Kim John Payne. SparkleCast Episode 16
In this episode, Kim, David, and Rebecca use the Junkyard Tales story “Buster” to talk about what is traditionally called "teasing" and "bullying" and is a broader way of discussing "inclusion" and "exclusion."
Sibling Rivalry with Dr. Carrie Contey. SparkleCast Episode 14
Dr Carrie Contey is not your typical parenting expert. Her work offers a new perspective on children, parenting, family life, and being a healthy, happy, whole human being.
Of Forests and Fairy Tales – a Child’s True Home
Children are at home in woods, on a farm and in their backyards. We know this is true. We can see it in the the way they wander around trees, the way they bend over to study a stone, the way they smile at a flower or widen their eyes at a mushroom.
February Tips for Creating a Day of Rest
Many of us in SparkleLand are experimenting with adding a weekly Day of Rest in our own families. Here are a few tips for February.
Welcoming New Baby with Bryn Huntpalmer. SparkleCast Episode 11
In this episode, Bryn, David, and Rebecca talk about the new story “New Brother/New Sister” – a story about a boy named Nathan who gets some important advice from a Tulip Tree elf about how to welcome his new sibling.
Tips for Creating Your Own Family Day of Rest
Start your own family day of rest for the new year! The main idea is to create a special day to slow down, spend time together, and recharge.
SparkleCast Episode 9 – Developing Inner Guidance with Leo Sofer
In this episode, Leo, David, and Rebecca discuss the story “Listening to the Story Whispers” and delve into the intrinsic and practical value of learning both how to hear stories, and how to tell our own.
Understanding Your Child with Meredith Markow. SparkleCast Episode 4
In this episode of SparkleCast, Meredith, David, and Rebecca talk about Sparkle Schoolhouse and how the Dry Gables story series can be used to better understand your child: their fears, their desires, their relationships, and how they prefer to be motivated.
Calming Down with Jonathan Hewitt. SparkleCast Episode 2
In this episode of SparkleCast, we discuss how children can ground themselves in their bodies when they are feeling "out of sorts" – and offer practical ways in which children can find calm during a Halloween season of darkness and fear.
Enneagram Type 3 Kids: You are Loved for YOU
In this post our focus is on our highly achieving, industrious and motivating, Earnst Bernard, or EB, Herz, the boy who found the valuable gold nugget, and in a way, also found his own worth.
We Are Made of Stories
The more I think about stories, the more I realize that virtually everything I think is a story.
Pruning: Apricots, Neural Pathways and Stories
David discusses how, in growing brains, it is not the amount of neural pathways that makes smarts - it is the clarity of them.
How a Story Can Make All the Difference
When you tell a story, you are offering your listeners engaging images that build another pathway. You are giving them a new way to get to “happiness” or “courage” or wherever they want to go.
Be Quiet
You cannot breathe out unless you have breathed in. The light follows the darkness. You cannot wake unless you have slept.
The Power of the Pause
One of the most powerful storytelling techniques used by storytellers and teachers and presenters around the world is, ironically, not talking. Silence. Stillness. A Pause.
Storytelling Tip: The Hook
Today, notice your hooks. Notice when you are moved, irritated, inspired or impressed. Note the hooks and then see if you can use them later. Perhaps when telling your spouse about your day – or writing in your journal – or telling a story to your little one as she is falling asleep.
Where Do the Stories Come From?
Many of the So Many Fairies and By Thistle By Thimble stories are inspired by thresholds or challenges that our children (or their parents) are facing. Moving to a new home, death of a beloved pet, teasing by peers, how to share a toy – these things we have met and continue to meet. And we meet them with story.
A Gift of Images
Stories are dreams. They are given in the waking state but they are basically the same thing. Children respond to them the same way too. Their eyes glaze over, their jaws slacken and they are transported. This is a gift. And they are grateful.
