Expectations around Christmas are varied and personal to every family, or may not be explored at all, depending on cultural traditions and beliefs. Preparing for and celebrating Christmas can be overwhelming and Christmas gifting can create its own challenges and budget concerns. Christmas is ultimately about coming together, sharing food, stories, memories and feeling connected. […]
Do you have special Christmas traditions in your family, perhaps they are traditions passed down through your family or religious/cultural traditions explored at home and with your community? Christmas is a time for giving, where acts of kindness are quintessentially ‘The spirit of Christmas.’ A meaningful way to give of yourself through handmade gifts, services […]
One of my most enlightening resources I had as a young mum was a couple of self-published simple books by author Susan Perrow, filled with ‘Healing stories for children’. They transformed my early parenting and they will no doubt enjoy another innings when my grandchildren come along.
It’s been a big couple of years and many of us are left feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and uncertain about what lies ahead. Our children’s lives have been deeply affected as they have had to navigate many twists and turns through school life, home life, family and friendships. It’s been a lot to ask of them […]
Continuing our theme of deepening family connections inspired by Lou Harvey-Zahra, here are some more simple fun ways to keep connecting! Choosing and buying gifts for children raises two main pressure points – what the child wants and what the child needs. It is important not to fall in to the trap, that more is […]
Continuing our theme of deepening family connections inspired by Lou Harvey-Zahra, here are some more simple fun ways to keep connecting! I’m Bored! The dreaded catch-cry too often spoken on holidays and weekends. No such thing with a creative mind! is the best response. To help tackle the will of boredom, there should always be […]
Image from Unboxed by Eleanor Ford Continuing our theme of deepening family connections, inspired by Lou Harvey-Zahra, here are some more simple fun ways to keep connecting! Nimble fingers make for nimble minds and happy hearts. When we are engaged in activities that require hand work, we switch of the overthinking monkey mind and engage […]
Over the next few blogs, I want to share with you, some of the ‘gold’ from the wonderful parenting series of books by our good friend Lou Harvey-Zahra at www.happychildhappyhome.com and @nurturethechild Lou is an author, educator and workshop facilitator, helping parents and children connect and thrive. Creative parenting, deepening family connections and feeling close […]
Holiday time should not cost a small fortune, with a little planning, simple resources and a commitment to staying local, you can re-ignite your children’s investigative nature to explore, create and imagine, turning boredom into wonder! Of course, it’s nice to plan some activities outside of home but making time at home, a positive focus […]
Having a nature shelf or side table is an incidental learning hive for exploring the seasons and the wonders of the natural world with children, and you can read more on this in our earlier blog ‘Creating a Nature Table’. Here I would like to share a collection of seasonal verses that celebrate the beauty […]
It is through simple opportunities to connect, that we can create simple family rhythms that nourish our children and our relationships. Mindfulness matters and is visible by example through the care we demonstrate and the language we use, in our every-day interactions and activities. Our children are incredible observers and so our actions speak volumes. […]
Celebrating birthdays creates a sense of magic and honours the child’s unique life. It invites beauty and wonder to simple traditions that enrich family life. Setting up a birthday table or little display somewhere at home with a simple silk or special cloth, where you can sit photo’s, seasonal treasures, candles, a hand-made or small […]
