Sparkle Stories Blog
A home for Sparkle audio stories, crafts, recipes, and kind words!
Avast Ye! Announcin’ th’ Newest Sparkle Tales!
We're launching our newest story collection: Windward Ho!
Storybox Playlist: Pirate Stories
Why do we love pirates? The adventure? The funny talk? The wild costuming? Well, here are some stories that look at pirates with a little sparkle.
The Gift of Your Attention
One of the biggest perks of being a storyteller is that I am schooled in my own attention. In order to write a story about a lonely squirrel, I need to pay attention not only to squirrels, but to loneliness as well. I need to focus on the sensation of loneliness and recall times when I felt lonely.
Friday's Kind Words: Stories That Hit the Spot
"Your stories hit the spot every time. They inspire us all to have conversations, to ask questions, and to voice concerns." -Sparkle Listener
A Storyteller’s Guide to Building Worlds: Where to Pay Attention
There is a story that is often attributed to the Cherokee people in which a grandfather tells his grandchild a story about two wolves. One wolf is greedy and selfish and the other is kind and generous. The wolves fight. The child asks, “Which one will win the fight?” The child’s grandfather answers, “The one you feed.”
Storybox Playlist: The Magic of Attention
What better way to focus on attention than to share stories about the awesome things that happen when you pay attention!
Favorite Parenting Tool: Growth Mindset
Even my very first, very basic exposure to the ideas within Growth Mindset immediately changed the way I talked to my kids, as well as the way I thought about myself and others. It’s changed the culture of our house, particularly around learning and education.
Friday's Kind Words: The Special Role of Grandparents
" So encouraging to see you presenting stories on the special role of grandparents and the many feelings that come from loving others well even as they are changing." ~Dorinda
The Magic of "Mindset"
Have you ever had a moment when you thought you've finally found the best parenting tool ever? I'm having that moment right now. The parenting tool? Fostering a growth mindset.
FIFTY: The Stars, the States, the Stories — the Territories
This story from the FIFTY collection are all historical fiction— pulling from real historical and biographical facts — but “sparkled” into a narrative that engages and inspires. They are all developmentally appropriate for children 8 years and older.
Storybox Playlist: Growth Mindset
Encouraging a Growth Mindset in your children fosters so many good qualities: patience, persistence, and grit to name a few. It also helps kids value their mistakes, and be curious about the best ways to learn. Here are five stories that demonstrate these qualities.
Friday's Kind Words: So Many Car Rides!
Just wanted to say that Sparkle Stories has gotten us through so many car rides! ~ Ann
Four Crafts for an Autumn Nature Table
These crafts make a perfect addition to your Autumn Nature Table! Inspire your kids to get outside into autumn and start crafting and creating!
Four Autumn Apple Recipes
With apples of all shapes and sizes in amazing shades of gold, red, green, it's a wonder that they are as delicious as they are beautiful. This week we celebrate apple season with four of our favorite apple recipes.
Celebrating Autumn Equinox
Celebrating the Fall Equinox is a great way to bring a closer connection to nature into your home. Explore our best waldorf-inspired tips to help welcome the change from summer to fall.
Storybox Playlist: Fall Fun — Stories to Inspire Appreciation This Autumn
Here are some stories to help us all appreciate (and imagine) the "Best of Autumn."
Friday's Kind Words: Our Daughters' Personal Growth
"Sparkle Stories has enriched our daily life so profoundly. I enjoy listening to them as much as my daughters." ~ Sasha, CT
Craft Your Own Memory Book
Inspired by the story “Grandpa Red-Crest’s Memory Nest" from our newest Loving Our Grands collection, we've created a playful and compact Memory Book project.
Sparkle Kitchen: Momma B's Tea Cakes
These gluten-free, dairy-free cookies are yummy (particularly when cold). Included are also the gluten-full, dairy-full alternatives.
New Collection! "Loving Our Grands: Stories for Appreciation and Understanding of our Elders"
This collection of three stories support children in understanding, relating to, and honoring the elders in their lives. The narratives create space for families to value the unique wisdom that our elders possess. These stories are a part of the Helping & Healing series and address topics ranging from changing abilities to dementia.
