We Nurture: Waldorf Inspired Parenting

Latest Episodes:

Creating a Restorative Daily Rhythm Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

Rhythm and routine aren’t quite the same thing. Both can be valuable to your home life, but rhythm offers a flexibility and a flow which routine does not. Our guest today, Meagan Rose Wilson, is Waldorf trained and an expert on all things rhythm. She joins us on the show to share her thoughts about why establishing daily, weekly and seasonal rhythms is so beneficial for families. Meagan offers examples of ways to incorporate rhythm into your life, and we discuss a practice which is helpful for maintaining that rhythm. We explore the restorative daily rhythm in more depth through delving into the concept of in-breaths and out-breaths, and we also delve into how to manage multiple rhythms at once when you have children of different ages. Rhythm is not set in stone, and you will need to change and adapt it as your children grow, and that is where the beauty lies!

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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How Rhythm Leads to Big Change Jun 03, 2021

Show notes

Welcome back to We Nurture everybody, and today we will be looking at the vitally important topic of rhythm and how to implement it in simple and foundational ways into your home and family life. As with many things, a great place to start lies in your breath and through the mindful observation of what is happening. In order to create a useful roadmap of routine and schedule, we need to start from where we are, and this means a certain level of observation. Simple breathing exercises are so useful in order to calm and center yourself and a child, and the more of this type of energy that you can facilitate the more balanced the rhythm you will be able to achieve will be. When we look at the example of young children and newborn babies, the breath is the focal point for gauging their health and mood, and these steps of learning are their first.

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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Transforming How We Communicate With Our Child Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

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.

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

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LifeWays North America

Stephen Spiltany

Stephen Spiltqny on Twitter

Santa Cruz Waldorf School

Conscious Parenting: A Guide to Living with Young Children on Amazon

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Why Learning Through Imitation is Significant to Childhood Development Mar 04, 2021

Show notes

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

The Young Child's Developing Awareness of Self Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

Today’s guest, Stephen Spiltany, has taught at the Santa Cruz Waldorf School since 1990. He offers courses and workshops worldwide, especially in Asia. He is also a parent and a grandparent and he has written three books and numerous articles about early childhood. In today’s episode, we go further into the development of young children as they discover and explore their awareness of self. Stephen takes us through what an undeveloped awareness of self is, with a comparison between that of an adult and that of a young child we broach the topic of the development of self, how we can recognize the sure signs of our child’s journey of discovering their sense of self, and he explains the concept of interoception. Stephen also shares with listeners about finding the balance between loving firmness and the appropriate distribution of autonomy, and the reasons why a developing child is unable to self-direct. Tune in today for all this and so much more, as we dive into this big topic on the essential aspects in creating connection and supportive development for our child.

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

How Young Children Think with Stephen Spiltany Feb 18, 2021

Show notes

A child’s development is an intricate process that has been refined through millions of years of evolution. Being present during developmental years is a major responsibility for a parent or caregiver, and understanding how one can guide the process is key to a healthy, growing child. Today I sit with Stephen Spiltany, who has taught at Santa Cruz Waldorf School since 1990. I open my conversation with Stephen by discovering the nuances of the child’s brain. Stephen talks about why children don’t have complex decision-making and planning skills, and he touches on the different systems of the brain, namely the Reptilian brain and the Limbic system. Following this, Stephen digs deeper as we explore the limbic system a little further. Through this, listeners will hear how they can adjust their parenting and caring styles. According to Stephen, a child’s job is to explore and try things out, while a parent’s job is to create loving boundaries. He continues this exploration by sharing ways you can approach children who struggle to receive instruction. To find out how you can lead through example, and much, much more, be sure to join us today!

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

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Instagram

Parenting with Greater Consciousness Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

Today I sit down with Stephen Spitalny to talk about parenting with greater consciousness. As an early childhood educator, author, lecturer, and consultant, Stephen walks us through each layer of greater consciousness using his book Conscious Parenting: A guide to living with young children, as a reference. We begin our conversation by finding out more about Stephen and his background. Following this, we turn our focus toward the introduction of Stephen’s book and his intentions for writing it. He touches on why the essential gesture of the human being is the activity of connecting before telling us all the ways we can connect with ourselves. Stephen continues by sharing what inspired him to spread his message, as he refers to a powerful anecdote and how his experience inspired him to help adults discover effective and supportive ways of communicating with children. In the latter half of the episode, Stephen talks about connecting with your own consciousness and how being mindful or present is a pathway to cultivating this connection. To find out more about Stephen’s thoughts on parenting with greater consciousness, be sure to tune!

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

Tantrums: Nurturing ways to help your child Feb 04, 2021

Show notes

As difficult as they can be to manage, tantrums are a normal part of childhood development. In this question-and-answer episode, we have dedicated the full duration of the show to tantrums. We find out what they are, where they come from, and how we, as parents, can handle them. Engaging our children during a tantrum might seem like a logical next step, but in this episode, we explain why that might not necessarily be the case. When it comes to coping with tantrums, it’s about striking a balance. We take time to discuss what this balance is and why the extremes on either side of it are easy to fall into. Don’t worry though, because we also take a look at the role of the parent and find out what qualities are most useful for dealing with tantrums, which include an understanding of brain development, providing a healthy day rhythm, holding boundaries, listening with compassion, and having empathy. Following this, we look at tantrums through a biological lens, finding out more about the prefrontal cortex and its accompanying limbic system and reptilian brain. Toward the end of the episode, we touch on the importance of rhythms, listening with compassion as a skill, and why empathy is a major game-changer.

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

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Your Parenting Questions Answered Jan 28, 2021

Show notes

In today’s episode, we answer some of your biggest parenting questions. To begin with, we address what you should do when your child or a child who is in care is screaming. Listeners will benefit from a range of tips that touch on why you should never scream back, along with pragmatic questions that will help calm the situation. You will also learn about children’s needs and discover the reasons behind their yelling. The second question we answer is on the topic of boys playing with dolls. We dive into why it’s healthy for boys to play with toys like these and explain how it helps boys move through tough life experiences while instilling empathy. In the latter half of the show, we discuss how you can handle siblings who fight over toys. We provide a range of strategies that cover the dos and don’ts, which are especially important to consider if you want to avoid sibling rivalry and jealousy. The last question we answer is about sensory play ideas for two-year-olds. Together, we learn how children in the early childhood phase go through life in a state of play, and why a sense of life, touch, movement, and balance are all important. To hear more details on each question, be sure to join us today!

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

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Nurturing Creativity in Early Childhood Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Sharifa sheds light on the importance of art in our young child’s life as a creative activity that connects us to our past and future development as human beings. She delves into the connection between art and brain development, how we use art to communicate and why art and creativity are fundamentally human activities.

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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