Sparkle Schoolhouse
The Story is Only the Beginning! With the inspiration of each Sparkle Story as a beginning, the corresponding Sparkle Schoolhouse lesson continues the journey with wholesome enrichment, inspired tutorials and a welcoming community for our homeschooling Sparkle Parents, Adults, Teachers and Children.
The Benefits of Reading Aloud
This week at Sparkle HQ, we’re celebrating books. We love how many ways you can tell a story — reading aloud is one of those awesome forms of story-telling. Read on for all of its magical benefits.
Sparkle Team's Favorite Reads for Kids
We've compiled a list of books that our Sparkle team has read to their children or that their children are reading. It's broken down into three age brackets to help you decide what books might be work best for your family — but don't hesitate to break free of the mold if you'd like!
The Ultimate Sparkle Back-to-School Tool Kit
Darn — the lazy days of summer are over. But don't let that get you down! With school starting again, we've rounded up all of our best back-to-school content in one place.
Art Supplies and Creative Play Materials
Children have an innate curiosity to explore their world through tactile experience and creative imaginative play. Sometimes as adults, we forget that we too have this ability. Here's a great list of materials to help your family get creative!
Small Acts That Make a Big Difference in Helping the Planet
Young people are anxious, and anxiety in youth seems to be growing. Who can blame them? We adults are anxious too! I've made list of things we do within the families of the Sparkle Team to help make a difference — so I'm offering real-life suggestions here.
Teaching Conservation and Sustainability to Your Kids - Tips and Resources
This post is meant to help you empower yourself with information, by giving you tips and resources to better understand what is going on with the planet and how to help your children understand what's going on in a way that isn't scary or intimidating but empowers them to learn more and help the planet.
What Sparkle Mamas Want for Mother's Day
We recently asked our Sparkle Team and our Sparklers on social media this question: If you could do anything for Mother's Day, what would you do? We got some really fun answers. We hope they inspire your own real Mother's Day celebrations!
Make History Come Alive! The FIFTY collection.
Sample FIFTY and explore American history with Sparkle Stories!
Exploring the Dry Gables Series - "Weathering the Storm"
Our Dry Gables friends show us how to live in community with compassion, gratitude, and love.
77 Things to Do Instead of Screens
When kids are away from screens, that means they are free to explore nature, cultivate social connections and foster creativity — explore this list of 55 things to do instead of screens.
Put Down That iPad! How We Get Our Kids Offline
Screens! Screens! Screens! It’s a daily (if not hourly) question when you have children, isn’t it? The Sparkle Team shares their own experiences on answering it!
Favorite Parenting Tool: Growth Mindset
Even my very first, very basic exposure to the ideas within Growth Mindset immediately changed the way I talked to my kids, as well as the way I thought about myself and others. It’s changed the culture of our house, particularly around learning and education.
Homeschool Resources: Both On and Offline
Here are some online and offline resources to help inspire and guide you if you are thinking about trying or are already in the thick of homeschooling.
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!
All About Fairies
What is a fairy really? Read all about air fairies, water fairies, earth fairies, and fire fairies as we review all the classic types and the natural elements they represent.
Sparkle Weekly Wonderings: Air Fairies
Air fairies – or pixies or sylphs – represent the flighty, changeable, and playful side of nature. In stories, they often represent communication, enthusiasm, curiosity, and secrets — the whispers of the wind. Children have a special connection to air fairies because they are a lot like them!
Where is the Mr. Rogers of 2018?
What would Mr. Rogers think of children’s entertainment today? As a man who built a culture out of children’s television, how would he feel about today’s shows? Would he compare the children’s television and entertainment of today with that of his time and conclude, as many of us have, that less TV and screen time might be a good idea?
How To Be Super Mini-Camp for Parents
This is a replay of a live How To Be Super Training — just for parents — done by David Sewell McCann.
Exploring the Dry Gables Series - "For the People"
In this post, we are focusing on the story “For the People.” Below you will see how the three main characters illustrate three unique ways to live in community.
Get Inspired to EXPLORE this Summer
Exploring can start in your very own yard and neighborhood! Below you'll find a series of suggestions and projects to inspire your family to put on their explorer packs and get out the door.
