A Better Moment

STORY

A Better Moment

Martin & Sylvia: Learning Days

Even Martin and Sylvia’s family can have one of those mornings — the kind when everyone feels rushed and out of sorts and starts snapping at each other. But what can happen when just one of the family members notices something magical outside — and invites the others to experience it too?

12 min
4+
Topics: HomeschoolingHolidays

Projects, Crafts, and Recipes for this Story

Helping & Healing

10 Things to Remember for a Less Stressful Holiday Season

This time of year can easily leave us feeling overextended and overstressed. But remember this: the holidays are for you, too! We've partnered with our friends Maren & Angela of Homeschool Unrefined to offer some practical tips and resources to help you and your family stay grounded. Read on for their suggestions!

Characters in this Story

Sylvia

Martin

Martin & Sylvia: Learning Days

A Circle of Light

A Circle of Light

Although Martin appreciates the coziness of autumn, he has been missing the long days of sunlight he enjoyed in the summertime. At Miss Melinda’s Spunderful Shop he learns sunlight hasn’t diminished — just transformed.
16 min
4+

A Special Bath for You

A Special Bath for You

Poor Daddy has a Christmas cold. Martin and Sylvia know just what to do: use their newfound love of herbal healing to make special soothing bath bombs!
15 min
4+

A Tasty Good Morning

A Tasty Good Morning

Martin and Sylvia love all kinds of delicious foods — and breakfast might just be their favorite family meal. Together with Momma and Daddy, they prepare a breakfast feast that is good enough for everyone to eat.
15 min
4+

A Dragon Dance

A Dragon Dance

For Martin, the dark nights of autumn can spark some worries, and right now his worries are all about dragons. Could Martin fight a dragon if he had to?
16 min
4+

A Breathing Day

A Breathing Day

The first day of school arrives for Martin and Sylvia and they are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work. But before they jump into their school subjects, Momma and Daddy ask to discuss one more thing first: breathing.
16 min
4+

A New Way to Paint

A New Way to Paint

On this cold December afternoon, Daddy takes the children to his art studio where they pull out the paint and canvases and begin to create.
14 min
4+

A Book for You

A Book for You

Martin and Sylvia are enjoying all the festiveness of the holiday season. When Daddy tells them about an Icelandic Christmas tradition called Jolabokaflod that involves books and chocolate, their creativity kicks in.
17 min
4+

A Science Potion for Halloween

A Science Potion for Halloween

As Halloween approaches, Martin and Sylvia feel excited — except for a few lingering nervous feelings. Momma introduces them to the magic of herbs. What potions could they create to soothe their worries?
12 min
4+

A Land Verse

A Land Verse

Over breakfast one morning, Martin and Sylvia get curious about the people who owned their house previously. What about people who lived here before them?
14 min
4+

A Morning Together Time

A Morning Together Time

Martin and Sylvia begin their homeschool days singing and dancing during Morning Together Time. When Martin voices their time routine is too easy, Daddy finds a clever way to choose their levels of difficulty.
15 min
4+

A Gift from the Nature Table

A Gift from the Nature Table

Martin and Sylvia need some quiet time, but they’re having a hard time settling into it. Momma points them to the nature table, on which treasures from all year round sit.
14 min
4+

A Handwork Moment

A Handwork Moment

Momma notices the children’s fidgety hands: “I think our hands are trying to tell us something,” she says. What they need is an afternoon of soothing handwork: knitting, crocheting, and sewing!
11 min
4+

A Wonderful Wormery

A Wonderful Wormery

When Sasha starts telling Martin and Sylvia about the worms she is studying in science, Martin’s ears perk up. Perhaps they could study worms in homeschool?
12 min
4+

A Better Moment

A Better Moment

Even Martin and Sylvia’s family have mornings when everyone feels rushed and out of sorts and starts snapping at each other. But what happens when someone notices something magical and invites others to experience it too?
12 min
4+

A Dowdling Song

A Dowdling Song

On a visit to see her neighbor Mrs. Brown, Sylvia discovers something fascinating!
13 min
4+

A Forested Alphabet

A Forested Alphabet

Martin and Sylvia love their friends and enjoy planning activities that suit them uniquely. So when a visit with Griffin appears on the schedule, they know it’s time for some outdoor fun.
14 min
4+

A Time For Bulbs

A Time For Bulbs

When Martin sees his neighbor Ollie, he invites him to play — without anticipating that Ollie might be busy and irritable. Through conversation with Daddy, Martin learns how to wait just as bulbs need to wait to blossom.
17 min
4+

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