Sparkle Stories Blog
A home for Sparkle audio stories, crafts, recipes, and kind words!
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.
Storybox Playlist: Honoring Our Elders — Stories of Appreciation
Here are some stories to help connect to the ancient tradition of honoring our elders.
Friday's Kind Words: Beyond Measure
"The work you and your team are doing is beyond measure. You are fully open to the power of this classroom platform and your ability to teach far beyond the bounds of a classroom wall." ~ Dena
Sparkle Crafts: Car Ride Activities
Keeping little ones entertained on car rides can be quite the challenge. If it's a short ride, you might get by with a few toys and some Sparkle Stories, but if you're hitting the road for a longer trip, our Sparkle team has offered up some ideas on how they keep their own kiddos busy. Here's to a peaceful, fun, and happy time on the road for all!
Sparkle Kitchen: Car Snacks Round Up!
We've created a list of nine Sparkle recipes that are great for the car and don't need refrigeration other than a cold pack. Stash a few of these in your car for your next trip and you'll be good to go!
Storybox Playlist: Car Ride Classics — Stories for Pleasant Journeys
Traveling in the car is a privilege of the modern age — but when young children are involved, it might feel more like a burden than a privilege. Being strapped in and needing to stay put is not their happy place. So what to do? Maybe add some stories to the mix!
Why Podcasts Make Your Kids Smarter
We all want our kids to be smart. We want them to be smart, strong, brave, and kind – and so, as parents, we then seek out opportunities, tools, methods, and strategies that might support that aim. My fathering tends to be very mathematical. If there is a goal, then there are component parts that will lead to fulfilling that goal.
Storybox Playlist: Homeschooling Back to School Stories
Here are some stories about homeschooling and what this time of year might look like for families who teach their own.
Friday's Kind Words: Simple Acts of Bravery
I used your back to school post with my son as he started at a new school. He came home and said with confidence and pride, “Mama, I was brave today. I talked to the kids at my table.” ~Jessica
Back to School Crafts and Recipes Round Up
We've gathered some of our best crafts and recipes to support families during back to school transitions!
Back to School Lunch Ideas Round Up
Here at Sparkle we've got lots of ideas for healthy meals and snacks as back-to-school time approaches.
How to Be Super on the First Day of School
Back to School is upon us and that means lots of new things! This requires our children to be brave, flexible, industrious, and improvisational. Here are some helpful tips and resources to help them tap into those superpowers!
Storybox Playlist: Back to School — Getting Ready and Making it Fun
There are a lot of details involved in preparing for the start of school. Whether it is your first time going to school or you are returning to the same school with the same friends, there are supplies, books, clothes, and schedules to attend to. We hope these stories will make that more enjoyable!
Friday's Kind Words: Imaginative and Engaging Stories
My son (age five) LOVES Sparkle Stories! Thank you for providing such imaginative and engaging stories for our kids! ~ Mindy
sparkle kitchen: cool treats round up
August is one of the hottest months of the year. Days are still long and summer storms might not be as frequent. That's when it great to have a few cool treats on hand to cool your little ones off. We've rounded up four of our favorite Sparkle treats that are super-easy to make and have no artificial ingredients.
Storybox Playlist: Hot! Hot! Hot! Ideas for Staying Cool in the Heat Summer
It's a record-breaking summer and these extra-long days can make it challenging to escape the heat. Here are some stories that might help you cool down.
For the Love of American Tall Tales
Tall Tales are our mythology— our heroes and demi-gods and bigger-than-life symbols of the American “folk soul.” Though there are few classic “tall tales” in our library of Sparkle Stories, their themes can be found throughout. Explore them here!
Sparkle Kitchen: Gluten Free Star Crackers
Using a leftover Christmas cookie cutter, these homemade crackers take on the shape of the stars. They're gluten-free, and the toppings can easily be customized to suit your tastes. Make up a batch to go along with a New Year's Eve cheese platter for a delicious start to whatever 2018 may hold.
Sparkle Kitchen: Beef Jerky
Beef jerky has long been a staple for people who need protein on the go, or in situations where harder to cook snacks might be impractical for speedy, secret eats. While drying your own jerky has its pitfalls, they’re relatively easy to avoid with just a few common sense precautions.
