When you are a parent of young children, planning what you have in your home and making a commitment to natural and handmade playthings is time consuming until you get the hang of how simple it can be. With just a few small doable changes, you will ease the chaos, slow things down and discover that creating in your home with young children is both possible and enjoyable.

The Story of a man, his young son and a box truck.

Attachment Theory is the theory of human relationships.  Bringing our children close to us and holding them close keeps them from feeling the alarm of separation and ensures they can mature and develop freely into who they are meant to be.

Contributors Val Laycock and Sara Norris have a candid conversation about self-care as a parent. Together, they discuss the real challenges and the real need for adding moments to care for ourselves so we can care for our children.

Contributor, Sara Norris and Early Childhood Educator, Jada Berg have a candid conversation about being outside with young children. Together, they share the joys and challenges of getting outside in all weather.

A short and sweet hand game that is perfect for Fall!

Our Christmas isn’t big or full of presents (they each get one) but for me, it’s exactly what I want my children’s memories to be filled with. My hope is that from it, they carry love and warmth and light with them out of this season and into the next.

When a child is free to engage fully in true play, they are able to embody the fullness of every moment.

As parents we often feel like we need to repress our children’s completely natural urges, especially when we are in social situations. When children are playing, especially with others, we see them throw and grab and feel the need to prevent or manage the behavior, when in the end, what our child is doing is completely natural and developmentally appropriate.

A sweet little song for Lantern festivals and other festivals of light!

A sweet little song for fall

Remember before having kids when the fall back time change meant an extra hour of much needed sleep? Unfortunately, our little ones’ internal clocks do not change just because the time on the clock changes.

The kitchen needs safe boundaries and children need to feel like they belong there.  As with all things developmental, young children need plenty of experience being around the kitchen to get the lay of the land, and they will of course copy all our behaviors as we navigate our individual relationships with food within our homes.  

There is a growing body of research that is paying closer attention to the phenomenon of our body’s reaction to nature. This effect, of feeling better when feeling connected to the natural world (whether it be experienced through a window, a video, a painting, or a walk), is called the biophilia theory. It’s a theory that suggests we have evolution to thank for our reason to seek out nature experiences.

Part of the research being compiled is coming out of the practice of shinrin-yoku in Japan. Shinrin-yoku is literally translated as Forest Bathing.

How is sharing your story a form of self-care? Kathleen Bowen from the Center for Biography and Social Art shares what can happen when we take time to pause and look at the story of our lives.

Contributor, Nancy Macalaster talks about the importance of self-care in the first three months.

Contributor, Nancy Macalaster shares the three important connections to create and maintain the first three months of your baby’s life.

Contributor, Nancy Macalaster answers the question, ‘how is my baby developing during the 4th Trimester and what is the parent’s role during this time together?’.

Contributor, Nancy Macalaster shares what is happening in our children’s development during the first three months of life. Otherwise known as; The Fourth Trimester.

It is possible to create a secure attachment if you breastfeed or bottle feed, sleep train or co-sleep, stay at home with your children or go to work, or wear your baby or use a stroller. Don’t get caught up in rigid ways of doing things. Instead, find what helps you to delight in your child.